Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal future in doubt after squad departure

Cristiano Ronaldo’s future with Portugal is uncertain after the five-time Ballon d’Or winner left the squad in Copenhagen following coach Jorge Jesus’s decision not to start him against Denmark.

The 41-year-old was due to train with his team-mates at Parken Stadium on Wednesday, ahead of Thursday’s UEFA Nations League fixture, but departed after Jesus confirmed at a news conference that Ronaldo would be omitted from the starting line-up for a second successive match.

Ronaldo later announced his decision on Instagram.

“After the press conference of the national team coach, and following a conversation with the president of the Portuguese Football Federation, I have made the decision to leave the role of the national team,” he wrote.

He added: “In due time, I will tell the Portuguese people the truth about the reasons that motivated my departure from the national team, to which I have always dedicated myself.”

“Now is time to wish Portugal and all my team-mates the very best for the future, without exception.”

The comments appeared to leave open the possibility of Ronaldo ending his international career.

Ronaldo was an unused substitute in Portugal’s 2-1 Nations League win in Norway on Sunday, having captained the team in the 1-0 home victory over Wales last Thursday. It was the first time since November 2024 that he had failed to play for Portugal when neither injured nor suspended.

Rotation is common during international fixtures that do not carry the same significance as a World Cup or European Championship, but Ronaldo appeared to suggest that deeper issues lay behind Jesus’s decision.

Spanish sports newspaper Marca reported that Jesus and Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proenca followed Ronaldo to Copenhagen airport in an attempt to convince him to remain with the squad. Ronaldo subsequently boarded his private jet.

Jesus, appointed Portugal manager in July after coaching Ronaldo at Saudi club Al-Nassr for a year, said earlier that there was no disagreement between them. However, the 72-year-old admitted his captain was unhappy after being left on the bench in Norway.

“There was no incident whatsoever,” Jesus said after that match.

He added on Wednesday: “Any player – and I was a player myself… when you spend 20 or 30 minutes warming up and then don’t get on… no one is happy about that.”

Jesus said he had informed Ronaldo before the Norway game that he would not start, although he could be introduced later.

“Afterwards, as coach, I decided not to bring him on. It’s nothing to make a fuss about,” he said.

The Portuguese federation said preparations for the matches against Denmark and Norway would continue with the remaining 24 players.

“The entire delegation remains totally focused on the national team’s next fixtures and on achieving the established objectives,” it said.

Jesus had planned to start AC Milan forward Goncalo Ramos against Denmark after he scored the winner in Norway.

“If everything goes according to plan, it will be Goncalo who plays,” Jesus said. “If I need him, he’ll come on. If I don’t need him, he won’t.”

Ronaldo’s sister, Elma Aveiro, criticised the Portuguese public on Instagram, saying: “They don’t deserve to have the best of anything.”

She added: “We are envious, scornful, and ignorant, and we deserve to return to the mediocrity that defined us in the pre-CR7 era of football.”

Ronaldo recently said this season would “probably (be) my last year in football”. Portugal’s record goalscorer and most-capped player has scored 146 goals in 234 appearances.

He made his international debut aged 18 in 2003, later helping Portugal reach the 2006 World Cup semi-finals and captaining them to Euro 2016 glory. He also played in the side that lost the Euro 2004 final to Greece in Portugal, while Portugal were eliminated by Spain in the last 16 of this year’s World Cup.