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, the atmosphere ahead of the Thursday clash in Denmark has been dominated by an urgent sit‑down that has been described as a "crisis" meeting involving the team captain, Cristiano Ronaldo. The 41‑year‑old forward, who has been a fixture in Portugal’s starting eleven since his debut in 2003, was conspicuously absent from the pitch during Sunday’s 1‑0 win over Norway.
He also missed the team’s training sessions on Monday and Tuesday. The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) has not released any information about an injury or medical problem, leaving fans and pundits to wonder what prompted his exclusion. Ronaldo’s status within the national squad has become a recurring topic of debate in recent years. After enjoying two decades as an automatic starter, he was omitted from the starting line‑up 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 fixtures in the 2024 European Championship qualifiers as well as the World Cup finals held this summer. 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 the Al Nassr striker intends to retire from international duty any time soon.
In a recent interview he hinted that he might hang up his club boots at the end of the next season, but he emphasized that he still feels capable of contributing to the national team. "I’m a thinker. You have to think," Ronaldo explained when asked whether he was considering retirement after the 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 believe I can help the team achieve its goals, and I will quit when I feel I’m no longer adding value." During Portugal’s narrow win over Wales, Ronaldo recorded seven attempts on goal without finding the net before being substituted in the 65th minute for Gonçalo Ramos. Jesus justified the change, 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 on the bench for the entire match.
"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 different physical demands. Initially, Jesus had indicated that Ronaldo would be involved in the Norway game, though not necessarily as a starter. When the final whistle blew in Oslo, Ronaldo walked straight from the substitute’s bench down the tunnel, bypassing the customary walk‑out with his teammates to greet 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 flow of the game had led him to stick with his original plan. Anonymous sources told The Athletic that Ronaldo was visibly frustrated by not playing at all, marking 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 against Croatia ahead of Euro 2024. The professional bond between Jesus and Ronaldo runs deep.
Before taking the helm of the national side, Jesus spent a year coaching Ronaldo at Al Nassr, guiding the Saudi club to a league title. The 72‑year‑old coach admitted that his move to Saudi Arabia was largely motivated by Ronaldo’s invitation and his desire to work with the superstar. Nevertheless, Portuguese sports daily Record labeled the episode an "internal earthquake," and on Tuesday Ronaldo posted a photo of himself in national‑team training gear accompanied by a heart emoji and the Portuguese flag.
The following day, newspaper A Bola featured a front‑page headline reading "situacao de crise" (crisis situation), 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 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 told the media that some segments of the Portuguese public 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 want me out of the national team." Ronaldo’s record is unparalleled: 234 caps and 146 goals, the most appearances and goals for any nation.
He has taken part in twelve major tournaments, lifting the Euro 2016 trophy and securing Nations League titles in 2019 and 2024. His status as a national icon is unquestionable, yet the conversation about his future with Portugal persists, fueled by age, performance, and the evolving dynamics within the squad. The upcoming "crisis" meeting is expected to address these concerns head‑on, aiming to clear any misunderstandings and decide how the veteran striker can best serve the team moving forward. Whether he will return to the starting eleven or assume a more mentorship‑focused role remains to be seen, but the outcome will undoubtedly shape Portugal’s strategy as they head into the next phase of international competition.