Jorge Jesus has started his tenure as Portugal’s head coach on a high note, 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 sit‑down with captain Cristiano Ronaldo, described by insiders as a "crisis" meeting. 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 training sessions on Monday and Tuesday, and the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) has offered no explanation involving injury or any physical ailment. Ronaldo’s place in the national side has become a hot topic in recent years. After two decades of automatic selection, the five‑time Ballon d'Or winner was surprisingly left out by former coach Fernando Santos for Portugal’s knockout games at the 2022 World Cup against Switzerland and Morocco.
His successor, Roberto Martínez, promptly reinstated him, and Ronaldo started every one of Portugal’s ten fixtures in the run‑up to the 2024 European Championship and the summer World Cup. While his long‑time rival Lionel Messi, now 39, is set to play his final match for Argentina against Benin next week, there is no indication that Ronaldo, who now 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 boots at the club level after next June, but insisted that he still believes he can contribute to the national team. "I’m a thinker. You have to think," Ronaldo said when asked whether he was contemplating retirement 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 feel I can help the team reach its goals, and I’ll step away only when I sense 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: "We needed fresh legs, someone who could press the Welsh centre‑backs and disrupt their build‑up, a player with more pace at the very front." 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, underlining the physical demands on the veteran striker. Although Jesus had initially indicated that Ronaldo would be involved in the match, he later admitted that the flow of the game made it unsuitable to bring him on. When the final whistle blew in Oslo, Ronaldo walked straight from the bench down the tunnel, bypassing the customary walk‑out with his teammates to acknowledge the Portuguese supporters in the stands.
After the match, Jesus said it "wasn't the right moment for Cris to come on" and that the circumstances forced a change of plan. Anonymous sources told The Athletic that Ronaldo was visibly frustrated by the decision, noting that this was only the third occasion he has been an unused substitute for Portugal – the previous instances being a Euro 2008 group game (after qualification was already secured) and a friendly versus Croatia ahead of Euro 2024. The relationship between Jesus and Ronaldo has generally been professional and mutually respectful. Prior to his appointment as national coach, Jesus spent a year at Al Nassr, where he guided the Saudi club to a league title while working directly with Ronaldo.
The 72‑year‑old manager has said his move to Saudi Arabia was largely motivated by Ronaldo’s invitation and his desire to coach the superstar. Nevertheless, Portuguese sports daily Record described the current situation as an "internal earthquake," and the tension spilled into social media. On Tuesday, Ronaldo posted a photo of himself in the national team training kit, accompanied by a heart emoji and the Portuguese flag, a subtle signal that he remains emotionally invested. The following day, the 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. The purpose, according to the federation, was simply a direct conversation between the coach and the captain to clear the air, rather than a formal meeting. Publicly, Jesus has reiterated that Ronaldo "is an important figure for Portugal, whether he plays or not." At the start of the international break, Ronaldo acknowledged that a segment of the Portuguese public and some TV pundits seemed to be urging his removal from the squad. "I feel the Portuguese fans support me, but I understand that some channels want to criticize me," he said.
"They've tried to kill me, but only with a shotgun. They want me out of the national team." Ronaldo’s statistical record is unmatched: 234 caps and 146 goals, making him the most‑capped and highest‑scoring player in Portugal’s history. He has represented his country in twelve major tournaments, lifting the Euro 2016 trophy and securing Nations League titles in 2019 and 2024. His iconic status is unquestionable, yet the debate over his future with the national side shows no signs of abating.
As Portugal heads into the next round of fixtures, the outcome of the "crisis" meeting could shape the final chapters of Ronaldo’s international career, while also influencing the team’s tactical options for the upcoming Denmark match and beyond.