Jorge Jesus has enjoyed a promising start to his tenure as Portugal’s head coach, guiding the 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 dubbed 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, did not feature at all in Sunday’s 1‑0 win over Norway. In fact, he skipped the team training sessions on both Monday and Tuesday, and the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) has offered no explanation in terms of injury or any physical ailment.
Ronaldo’s place in the national team has become a recurring subject of debate in recent seasons. After two decades as an automatic starter, he was surprisingly left out of the starting lineup by former coach Fernando Santos for Portugal’s knockout matches at the 2022 World Cup against Switzerland and Morocco.
His successor, Roberto Martinez, reinstated him, and Ronaldo started every one of Portugal’s ten games in the qualifying campaign for Euro 2024 as well as 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 against Benin, there are no clear indications that the Al Nassr forward intends to hang up his Portugal boots any time soon.
In a recent interview he hinted that he might retire from club football at the end of the next season, but he stressed that he still believes he can contribute to the national side. "I’m a thinker. You have to think," Ronaldo said 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 federation president and our coach. I still feel I can help the team achieve its goals, and I’ll step away only when I sense I’m 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. Jesus defended the decision, explaining that fresh legs were needed to press the Welsh centre‑backs and to 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 veteran’s need for more recovery time. Initially, Jesus had indicated that he intended for Ronaldo to be involved in the Norway game, albeit not as a starter. However, once 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 stands.
Post‑match, Jesus admitted that the timing was not right for Ronaldo to enter and that the state of play forced a change of plan. Anonymous sources speaking to The Athletic revealed that Ronaldo was visibly frustrated by being left out. This marked only the third occasion in his international career that he has been an unused substitute – the previous instances being a Euro 2008 group match (when Portugal had already qualified) and a friendly against Croatia ahead of Euro 2024.
The relationship between Jesus and Ronaldo is historically strong. 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 recent episode 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 an attempt to signal reconciliation. The following day, sports newspaper A Bola splashed the headline "situacao de crise" (crisis situation) across its front page, while outlet B24 reported that an "emergency" meeting had been arranged between 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 the captain, reflecting the mutual respect they share. Publicly, Jesus has reiterated that Ronaldo remains a pivotal figure for Portugal, regardless of whether he steps onto the pitch. At the start of the international break, Ronaldo acknowledged that a segment of the Portuguese public and some media outlets have questioned his continued inclusion. "I feel the Portuguese fans support me, but I understand some TV channels want to criticize me," he said.
"They’ve tried to take me down, but only with a shotgun. They want me out of the national team." 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 twelve major tournaments, lifting the Euro 2016 trophy and securing Nations League titles in 2019 and 2024. Ronaldo’s status as a national icon is unquestionable, yet the conversation about his future with the Seleção endures.
The recent "crisis" meeting underscores the delicate balance between honoring a legendary career and managing the practical demands of a competitive squad. As Portugal prepares for its next fixtures, all eyes will be on whether the legendary forward will return to the starting eleven or gradually step aside for the next generation.