Jorge Jesus has enjoyed a promising beginning to his tenure as Portugal’s head coach, guiding the side to victories over Wales and Norway in the UEFA Nations League. Yet, as the squad prepares for Thursday’s away fixture in Denmark, the narrative has shifted to a tense "crisis" meeting 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 conspicuously absent from the pitch during 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 that would explain his exclusion. Ronaldo’s status within the national team has become an increasingly hot topic over the past few years. After two decades of automatic selection, the five‑time Ballon d’Or winner was left out of the starting lineup by former coach Fernando Santos for Portugal’s knockout matches at the 2022 World Cup against Switzerland and Morocco. His successor, Roberto Martínez, reinstated him and started him in all ten of Portugal’s games during the 2024 European Championship qualifiers and the summer World Cup finals.
While his long‑time rival Lionel Messi, now 39, is set to make his final appearance for Argentina next week against Benin, there is no indication that the Al Nassr striker intends to retire from international duty. In a recent interview, Ronaldo said he would "probably" hang up his club boots at the end of the season next June, but he insisted that he still feels capable of contributing to the national side before the upcoming international break.
"I'm a thinker. You have to think," Ronaldo explained when asked whether he had considered stepping away after this World Cup. "That’s why you see me here now. It means I will continue.
I spoke with the FPF president and our coach. I still believe I can help the team achieve its goals, and I’ll stop when I feel I’m no longer adding value." In the match against Wales, Ronaldo recorded seven attempts without finding the net before being substituted in the 65th minute for Gonçalo Ramos.
Jesus defended the decision, saying fresh legs were needed to press the Welsh centre‑backs and provide more speed in the defensive line. Three days later, against Norway, Ronaldo remained on the bench for the entire game.
"Whether we like it or not, Cris isn’t like João Neves, who is 20 and can play every three days," Jesus remarked, emphasizing the physical demands on the veteran forward. Initially, Jesus had indicated that Ronaldo would be involved in the Norway match, albeit not as a starter.
However, when the final whistle blew in Oslo, Ronaldo walked straight from the substitute bench down the tunnel, bypassing the customary team acknowledgment of the Portuguese fans in the stands. After the game, Jesus said it "wasn't the right moment for Cris to come on" and that the state of play had led him to change his mind.
Anonymous sources told The Athletic that Ronaldo was visibly frustrated by the decision to keep him on the bench. This marked only the third occasion he has been an unused substitute for Portugal, the previous instances occurring in a Euro 2008 group match (after Portugal had already qualified) and a friendly against Croatia ahead of Euro 2024. The relationship between Jesus and Ronaldo has generally been professional and respectful.
Prior to his appointment as national coach, Jesus spent a year at Al Nassr, guiding Ronaldo to a Saudi Pro League title. The 72‑year‑old manager 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 current 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 featured a front‑page headline reading "situacao de crise" (crisis situation), while 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, aimed at clearing the air and reaffirming mutual respect. Publicly, Jesus has reiterated that Ronaldo remains "an important figure for Portugal, playing or not." At the start of the break, Ronaldo hinted to the media that some segments of the Portuguese public no longer wanted him in the squad.
"I feel the Portuguese fans like me, but I understand that some TV channels want to criticise me," he said. "They've tried to kill me, but only with a shotgun. They are dying for me not to come to the national team anymore." Statistically, no other male footballer has amassed as many caps (234) or goals (146) for a single nation as Ronaldo. He has competed in twelve major tournaments, lifting the European Championship in 2016 and securing Nations League titles in 2019 and 2024.
His legacy as a Portuguese icon is unquestionable, yet the debate over his future involvement with the national team continues to dominate headlines. The upcoming "crisis" discussion is expected to address tactical considerations, Ronaldo’s physical condition, and the broader strategic direction of the squad as they head into the Denmark match. Whether the outcome will see the veteran striker return to the starting eleven or signal a gradual transition away from the international stage remains to be seen. This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
© 2026 The Athletic Media Company