Jorge Jesus has started his tenure as Portugal's head coach on a high note, guiding the national side to victories over Wales and Norway in the UEFA Nations League. Yet, as the team prepares for Thursday's away game in Denmark, the spotlight 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, did not step onto the pitch during Sunday's 1‑0 win over Norway. He also missed training sessions on Monday and Tuesday, although the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) has not disclosed any injury or medical problem that would explain his absence.
Ronaldo's role in the national squad has become a recurring subject of debate in recent years. After two decades as an automatic starter, he was surprisingly left out of the starting line‑up by former coach Fernando Santos for Portugal's 2022 World Cup knockout games against Switzerland and Morocco. When Roberto Martinez took over, he promptly reinstated Ronaldo, starting him in all ten of Portugal's matches 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 against Benin, there is no indication that the Al Nassr striker intends to retire from international duty anytime soon.
In a recent interview, Ronaldo said he might consider hanging up his boots at the end of the club season next June, but he emphasized that he still believes he can contribute to Portugal's ambitions. "I'm a thinker.
You have to think," Ronaldo explained when asked whether he was contemplating retirement after this year's World Cup. "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 team achieve its goals, and I will quit when I feel I am no longer adding value." During the Wales match, Ronaldo recorded seven attempts without finding the net before being substituted in the 65th minute for Gonçalo Ramos. Coach 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 an unused substitute.
"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 physical demands on the veteran striker. Jesus had initially indicated that Ronaldo would be involved in the Norway game, albeit not as a starter. When the final whistle blew in Oslo, Ronaldo walked straight from the bench down the tunnel, bypassing the customary team acknowledgment of the Portuguese supporters in the stadium.
After the match, Jesus said it "wasn't the right moment for Cris to come on" and that the flow of the game prompted a change of plan. Anonymous sources speaking to The Athletic revealed that Ronaldo was visibly frustrated by being left out. This marks only the third occasion the forward has 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 ahead of Euro 2024. The professional bond between Jesus and Ronaldo runs deep.
Before taking the Portugal job, Jesus spent a year coaching Ronaldo 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 forward.
Nevertheless, Portuguese 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 signalling a desire to mend fences. The following day, sports newspaper A Bola dominated its front page with the headline "situacao de crise" (crisis situation).
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 restore mutual respect. The federation later clarified that the gathering was not a formal meeting but a direct conversation between Jesus and Ronaldo, underscoring their long‑standing respect for one another. Publicly, Jesus has reiterated that Ronaldo remains an "important figure for Portugal, playing or not." At the start of the international break, Ronaldo hinted that some segments of the Portuguese public might no longer want him in the squad.
"I feel the Portuguese fans like 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 legacy is unrivalled: 234 caps and 146 goals, the most appearances and goals any player has recorded for a single nation.
He has featured in twelve major tournaments, lifting the European Championship in 2016 and securing Nations League titles in 2019 and 2024. His iconic status in Portugal is unquestionable, yet the conversation about his future with the national side persists. As Portugal looks ahead to the Denmark fixture, the team must balance the tactical needs of a demanding schedule with the emotional weight of managing a legend who still commands global attention.
Whether Ronaldo will return to the starting eleven or transition into a mentorship role remains to be seen, but the forthcoming weeks promise to shape the narrative of his international career for the final time.