Jorge Jesus has enjoyed an impressive start to his tenure as Portugal's head coach, guiding the team 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 an urgent "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 not used at all in Sunday's 1‑0 win over Norway.
He also missed training sessions on Monday and Tuesday. The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) has offered no explanation related to injury or fitness, leaving fans and pundits to speculate about the reasons behind his exclusion. Ronaldo's role in the national side has been a hot topic for several years. After two decades as an automatic starter, the five‑time Ballon d'Or winner was surprisingly left out of the starting line‑up by former coach Fernando Santos during Portugal's 2022 World Cup knockout matches against Switzerland and Morocco.
His successor, Roberto Martinez, reinstated him and kept him in the starting eleven for all ten of Portugal's fixtures in 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, there is no indication that Ronaldo, who currently plays for Al Nassr, intends to retire from international duty anytime soon. In a recent interview, he said he would "probably" hang up his club boots at the end of the season in June, but he reaffirmed his desire to continue contributing to the national team.
When asked whether he was contemplating retirement after this World Cup, Ronaldo responded, "I'm a thinker. You have to think. That's 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 side achieve its goals, and I will stop when I feel I can no longer add value." In the match against Wales, Ronaldo registered seven attempts without scoring before being substituted in the 65th minute for Gonçalo Ramos. Coach Jesus explained the change, stating, "Fresh legs were needed.
We wanted a player who could press the Welsh centre‑backs and bring more speed to the first line of defence." Three days later, against Norway, Ronaldo remained an unused substitute. Jesus clarified, "Whether we like it or not, Cris isn't like João Neves, who is 20 and can play every three days." He had initially indicated that Ronaldo might feature, but he was unlikely to start. After the final whistle in Oslo, Ronaldo walked straight from the bench down the tunnel, bypassing the customary team acknowledgment of the Portuguese fans.
Post‑match, Jesus admitted that the timing was not right for Ronaldo to enter the game and that the state of play had influenced his decision. Anonymous sources told The Athletic that Ronaldo was visibly irritated by the complete lack of playing time, noting that this was only the third occasion he had been an unused substitute for Portugal – the previous instances being a Euro 2008 group match (after qualification was already secured) and a friendly against Croatia before Euro 2024. The professional bond between Jesus and Ronaldo is strong. Before taking the Portugal job, Jesus spent a year coaching Ronaldo at Al Nassr, leading the Saudi side to a league title.
The 72‑year‑old coach said his move to Saudi Arabia was largely motivated by Ronaldo's invitation and his willingness to work with the star striker. Nevertheless, Portuguese 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, hinting at his desire to stay involved.
The following day, sports newspaper A Bola featured 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. The purpose, according to insiders, was to clear the air and address any lingering tensions. The FPF later clarified that the gathering was not a formal meeting but a direct conversation between Jesus and Ronaldo, emphasizing the mutual respect they share.
Publicly, Jesus has reiterated that Ronaldo remains an essential 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 criticise 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." Statistically, no other male footballer has amassed as many caps (234) or goals (146) for a single nation as Ronaldo. He has represented Portugal in 12 major tournaments, capturing the Euro 2016 title and Nations League crowns in 2019 and 2024.
Ronaldo's legacy as a Portuguese icon is unquestionable, yet the debate over his future with the national side persists, fueling media speculation and fan discussion alike. The upcoming meetings and the coach's tactical choices will likely shape the next chapter of his storied international career.