Cristiano Ronaldo leaves Portugal camp with international future still unclear

Cristiano Ronaldo has left Portugal’s training camp and will miss the remainder of the current international break, the Portuguese Football Federation has confirmed in a brief statement.

The federation did not explain why the captain had departed or provide any further details about the decision. Its announcement also made no reference to Ronaldo retiring from international football, according to Marca.

“The Portuguese Football Federation announces that Portuguese international Cristiano Ronaldo has left the national team’s training camp, currently taking place in Copenhagen,” the statement said.

Preparations for Portugal’s next two matches will continue as planned, the federation added. The team is due to face Denmark away from home before meeting Norway at Estadio do Dragao, with the remaining 24 players in the squad involved.

“The preparations for the matches against Denmark away from home and Norway, to be played at Estadio do Dragao, will continue according to the established programme, with the participation of the 24 remaining players in the squad,” the statement continued.

It concluded: “The coaching and administrative staff remain fully focused on the national team’s upcoming commitments and on achieving the objectives that have been set.”

No announcement on retirement

The wording of the federation’s statement indicates that Ronaldo’s absence applies only to the rest of the current international break. It does not address whether the 40-year-old will end his international career permanently.

Ronaldo left the Portugal camp hours after comments from manager Jorge Jesus, who had said there was no problem between him and the captain. The player later revealed that he decided to depart after the manager’s news conference and following a conversation with the president of the Portuguese Football Federation.

The full reasons for Ronaldo’s decision have not been disclosed. He has said he will explain them at the appropriate time, leaving Portugal to continue its UEFA Nations League campaign without its captain.

For now, the federation has confirmed only that Ronaldo has left the camp. No further announcement has been made about his availability for Portugal beyond the current international break.