Jorge Jesus has started his tenure as Portugal’s head coach on a high note, guiding the side to victories over Wales and Norway in the UEFA Nations League. Yet, as the squad prepares for Thursday’s clash in Denmark, the focus has shifted to a tense "crisis" discussion involving captain Cristiano Ronaldo. The 41‑year‑old forward, who has been a fixture in Portugal’s starting eleven since his debut in 2003, was not used at all in Sunday’s 1‑0 win over Norway. He also missed the team training sessions on Monday and Tuesday.
The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) has not disclosed any injury or medical problem to explain his absence. Ronaldo’s role in the national team has become a hot topic in recent seasons.
After two decades as an automatic starter, the five‑time Ballon d’Or winner was omitted from the line‑up by former coach Fernando Santos for the knockout stage of the 2022 World Cup against Switzerland and Morocco. His successor, Roberto Martínez, reinstated him, and Ronaldo started every one of Portugal’s ten matches in the run‑up to Euro 2024 and the summer World Cup.
While his long‑time rival Lionel Messi, now 39, is set to play his final game for Argentina against Benin, there is no clear indication that Ronaldo, who currently plies his trade with Al Nassr, intends to retire from international duty any time soon. In a recent interview he hinted that he might hang up his club boots at the end of the next season, but he reaffirmed his willingness to continue contributing to Portugal’s cause. When asked whether he had contemplated retirement after this World Cup, Ronaldo replied, "I’m a thinker. You have to think.
This is why you see me here now. It means I will continue.
I had a conversation with the FPF president and our coach. I still believe I can help the national team achieve its goals, and I’ll stop when I feel I’m no longer adding value." In the Wales game, Ronaldo recorded seven attempts without finding the net before being substituted in the 65th minute for Gonçalo Ramos.
Coach Jesus explained the change, saying, "We needed fresh legs, someone who could press the Welsh centre‑backs and prevent them from playing out, a player with more speed in the first line of defence." Three days later, against Norway, Ronaldo remained on the bench for the entire match. Jesus later clarified, "Whether we like it or not, Cris isn’t like João Neves, who is 20 and can play every three days." Initially, Jesus had indicated that Ronaldo would be involved in the Norway fixture, albeit not as a starter. When the final whistle blew in Oslo, Ronaldo walked straight from the substitute bench down the tunnel, bypassing the customary team acknowledgment of the visiting Portuguese supporters. After the game, Jesus said, "It wasn’t the right moment for Cris to come on," noting that the state of play had led him to stick with his original plan.
Unnamed sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Athletic that Ronaldo was visibly annoyed at being left out. This marked only the third occasion in his international career that he has been an unused substitute, the previous instances being a Euro 2008 group match (after Portugal had already qualified) and a friendly against Croatia ahead of Euro 2024. Jesus and Ronaldo share a strong professional bond. Prior to his appointment with the national side, Jesus coached Ronaldo for a season at Al Nassr, guiding the Saudi club to a league title.
The 72‑year‑old coach has said his move to Saudi Arabia was largely motivated by Ronaldo’s invitation and his willingness to work with the star striker. Nevertheless, Portuguese sports daily Record described the situation as an "internal earthquake." On Tuesday, Ronaldo posted a photo of himself in national‑team training gear, accompanied by a heart emoji and the Portuguese flag. The following day, the newspaper A Bola ran a front‑page headline reading "situacao de crise" (crisis situation).
Another outlet, B24, reported that an "emergency" meeting had been arranged involving Ronaldo, Jesus and FPF president Pedro Proença. According to the federation, the gathering was not a formal meeting but a direct conversation between Jesus and Ronaldo, reflecting the mutual respect they have for one another. Publicly, Jesus has emphasized that Ronaldo remains a vital figure for Portugal, regardless of whether he steps onto the pitch. At the start of the international break, Ronaldo told the media that some segments of the Portuguese public no longer wanted him in the squad.
He added, "I feel the Portuguese fans like me, but I understand that some TV channels want to criticize me. They’ve tried to kill me, but only with a shotgun.
They are dying for me not to come to the national team anymore." Ronaldo’s statistical record is unparalleled: 234 caps and 146 goals, the most appearances and goals for any nation. He has competed in twelve major tournaments, lifting the Euro 2016 trophy and the Nations League titles in 2019 and 2024. He is undeniably an icon of Portuguese football, yet the debate over his future with the national side persists, fueling media speculation and fan discussion alike.
The upcoming "crisis" talk aims to clear the air, but the outcome will likely shape the narrative surrounding Portugal’s attack for the remainder of the qualification cycle and beyond.