Jorge Jesus has kicked off his tenure as Portugal's head coach with an impressive run, guiding the national side 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 a tense "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, sat out the entire Sunday win over Norway and was absent from team training on Monday and Tuesday.
The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) has not disclosed any injury or medical problem that would explain his exclusion. Ronaldo's role within the national team has become a recurring subject of debate in recent years.
After two decades as an automatic starter, the five‑time Ballon d'Or winner was left out of the starting line‑up by former coach Fernando Santos for Portugal's 2022 World Cup knockout games against Switzerland and Morocco. His successor, Roberto Martinez, promptly reinstated him, selecting Ronaldo to start every one of Portugal's ten matches 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 farewell appearance for Argentina next week against Benin, there is no indication that Al Nassr forward Ronaldo intends to retire from international duty anytime soon.
In a recent interview, he hinted that he might retire from club football at the end of the upcoming season, but he stressed that he still believes he can contribute to the national side. "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 spoke with the FPF president and our coach. I still feel I can help the team achieve its goals, and I will step away only when I sense I am no longer adding value." During Portugal's 1‑0 triumph over Wales, Ronaldo recorded seven attempts on goal 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 add speed to 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 a veteran player.
Initially, Jesus had indicated that Ronaldo would be involved in the Norway match, 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. After the game, Jesus said the timing was not right for Ronaldo to enter, and the flow of the match prompted a change of plan. Anonymous sources told The Athletic that Ronaldo was visibly frustrated by not featuring at all.
This marked only the third occasion the forward has been an unused substitute for Portugal, the previous instances occurring during a Euro 2008 group match (when qualification was already secured) and a friendly versus Croatia ahead of Euro 2024. The professional bond between Jesus and Ronaldo runs deep. 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 motivated by Ronaldo's invitation and his willingness to work with the star forward.
Portuguese sports daily Record described the situation as an "internal earthquake," while Ronaldo posted a photo of himself in national training gear on Tuesday, accompanied by a heart emoji and the Portuguese flag. The following day, newspaper A Bola ran a front‑page headline reading "situacao de crise" (crisis situation), and outlet B24 reported that an "emergency" meeting had been arranged involving Ronaldo, Jesus, and FPF president Pedro Proença. The purpose of the gathering, according to the federation, was to clear the air rather than conduct a formal meeting; it was essentially a direct conversation between Jesus and Ronaldo, who share mutual respect. Publicly, Jesus has emphasized that Ronaldo remains a vital figure for Portugal, regardless of whether he takes the field.
At the start of the international break, Ronaldo told the media that some segments of Portuguese society 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 return to the national team." Ronaldo's statistical legacy is unrivaled: 234 caps and 146 goals, the most appearances and goals any player has recorded for a single nation.
He has competed in twelve major tournaments, lifting the Euro 2016 trophy and the Nations League titles in 2019 and 2024. Undoubtedly, he is an icon of Portuguese football, yet the conversation about his future and his place in the squad continues to dominate headlines. The upcoming "crisis" meeting aims to resolve the tension and determine how the veteran can best serve the team moving forward, whether from the bench, on the pitch, or in a mentorship role for the next generation of Portuguese talent.