RismadarVoice Reporters
October 1, 2026
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has left the national team’s training camp in Copenhagen following a disagreement involving his playing time under head coach Jorge Jesus.
The 41-year-old forward confirmed his departure on Wednesday, September 30, shortly after Jesus addressed questions about his role in the team ahead of Portugal’s UEFA Nations League match against Denmark.
Ronaldo said his decision followed the coach’s press conference and a conversation with Portuguese Football Federation President Pedro Proença. He said he would explain the reasons behind his departure at a later date.
The Portuguese Football Federation subsequently confirmed that Ronaldo had left the camp, saying the remaining squad would continue preparations for the upcoming fixtures.
The development followed Portugal’s 2-1 victory over Norway on Sunday, when Ronaldo remained an unused substitute despite being named among the replacements.
Ronaldo had warmed up during the match but was ultimately not introduced. Jesus later acknowledged that the forward was unhappy with the situation and said he should have handled the warm-up differently.
However, the coach maintained that decisions over whether a player enters a match remain his responsibility regardless of the player’s status.
Jesus also rejected suggestions that Ronaldo had refused to train, explaining that the forward had been completing gym work rather than participating fully with the rest of the squad.
Ronaldo subsequently left the camp before Portugal’s match against Denmark and is also expected to miss the following fixture against Norway.
The episode has raised questions over Ronaldo’s future with the national team, although neither the player nor the Portuguese Football Federation has announced his retirement from international football.
Ronaldo’s own statement stopped short of declaring the end of his Portugal career. Instead, he wished the national team and his teammates well and said he would later provide his account of the circumstances surrounding his departure.
Ronaldo remains Portugal’s most-capped player and all-time leading goalscorer, having represented the national team for more than two decades.
His departure leaves Portugal preparing for its immediate Nations League fixtures without its longtime captain as attention turns to whether he will return for subsequent international assignments.
