Jorge Jesus has enjoyed a promising start to his tenure as Portugal’s head coach, guiding the national side to victories over Wales and Norway in the UEFA Nations League. Yet, the atmosphere ahead of Thursday’s trip to Denmark has been dominated by what the Portuguese press has termed a "crisis" meeting involving captain Cristiano Ronaldo.
The 41‑year‑old striker, 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’s training sessions on Monday and Tuesday.
The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) has not released any information about an injury or any physical problem that might explain his exclusion. Ronaldo’s place in the Portugal squad has been a subject of intense debate for several years. After two decades as an automatic starter and five Ballon d’Or trophies to his name, he was dropped by former coach Fernando Santos for the knockout stage of the 2022 World Cup, missing the matches against Switzerland and Morocco.
His successor, Roberto Martinez, reinstated him, and Ronaldo started all ten of Portugal’s games in the qualifying campaign for Euro 2024 as well as the World Cup finals earlier this summer. While his long‑time rival Lionel Messi, now 39, is set to make his final appearance for Argentina against Benin next week, there is no indication that the Al Nassr forward intends to retire from international duty any time soon.
In a recent interview, Ronaldo said he might consider hanging up his boots at the club level at the end of the season in June, but he reaffirmed his desire to keep contributing to the national team. "I’m a thinker. You have to think," Ronaldo explained when asked whether he had contemplated retirement after this World Cup. "That’s why you see me here now.
It means I will continue. I spoke with the president of the federation and with our coach. I still believe I can help the national side achieve its goals, and I’ll step away only when I feel I’m no longer adding value." During Portugal’s 1‑0 triumph over Wales, Ronaldo registered seven attempts on goal before being substituted in the 65th minute for Gonçalo Ramos. Coach Jesus justified the change, saying fresh legs were needed to press the Welsh centre‑backs and disrupt their build‑up play.
Three days later, against Norway, Ronaldo remained on the bench for the entire match. "Whether we like it or not, Cris isn’t like João Neves, who is 20 and can play every three days," Jesus remarked, highlighting the veteran’s need for more recovery time. Jesus had initially indicated that Ronaldo would be available for the Norway game, though he did not expect the striker to start.
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 match, Jesus admitted that the timing wasn’t right for Ronaldo to be introduced and that the state of the game forced a tactical rethink.
Anonymous sources speaking to The Athletic disclosed that Ronaldo was visibly frustrated by his lack of involvement. This marked only the third occasion in his international career that he was an unused substitute – the previous instances being a Euro 2008 group match after qualification was already secured and a friendly against Croatia ahead of Euro 2024. The relationship between Jesus and Ronaldo has historically been strong. Before taking over the national team, Jesus spent a year coaching Ronaldo at Al Nassr, guiding the Saudi club to a league title.
The 72‑year‑old Portuguese manager said his decision to work in Saudi Arabia was largely motivated by Ronaldo’s invitation and his willingness to mentor the star forward. 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, perhaps signaling a desire to mend fences.
The following day, newspaper A Bola dominated its front page with the headline "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 less a formal meeting and more a direct conversation between the coach and his captain, underscoring the mutual respect that still exists between them. Publicly, Jesus has reiterated that Ronaldo remains a vital figure for Portugal, regardless of whether he steps onto the field.
At the start of the international break, Ronaldo hinted that a segment of the Portuguese public no longer wanted him in the squad. "I feel the Portuguese fans support me, but I understand that some TV channels want to criticize 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." Ronaldo’s statistical record is unparalleled: 234 caps and 146 goals, making him the most‑capped and highest‑scoring player in Portuguese history. He has featured in twelve major tournaments, lifting the European Championship in 2016 and securing Nations League titles in 2019 and 2024. Undeniably, he is an icon of Portuguese football, yet the conversation about his future with the national side persists, fueled by his age, recent benchings, and the evolving dynamics within the squad. The upcoming "crisis" meeting is expected to address these concerns, clarify expectations, and decide whether the veteran striker will continue to be a central piece of Portugal’s plans or gradually step aside for the next generation.
This piece originally appeared in The Athletic.