Jorge Jesus has enjoyed a promising start to his tenure as Portugal's head coach, guiding the national side to victories over Wales and Norway in the UEFA Nations League. Yet, as the team prepares for Thursday's away fixture in Denmark, the atmosphere has been dominated by 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, was conspicuously absent from the action on Sunday when Portugal edged Norway 1-0.
He did not set foot on the pitch for a single minute and, unusually, he also missed the team training sessions on Monday and Tuesday. The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) has offered no explanation in terms of injury or any physical ailment, leaving fans and pundits to speculate about the reasons behind his exclusion. Ronaldo's status within the national team has become a recurring topic of debate in recent years. For two decades he was an automatic starter, a role cemented by his five Ballon d'Or awards and his record-breaking goal tally.
However, his relationship with the national coach has not always been smooth. Former manager Fernando Santos famously left him out of the starting line‑up for Portugal's knockout games at the 2022 World Cup against Switzerland and Morocco, a decision that sparked worldwide headlines. When Roberto Martinez took over, he reinstated Ronaldo as a starter, and the veteran featured from the first minute in all ten of Portugal's matches during the 2024 European Championship qualifying campaign and the summer World Cup finals. While Ronaldo's 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 2026 season, but he stressed that he still believes he can contribute to Portugal's ambitions. "I'm a thinker.
You have to think," he said when asked whether he had contemplated retirement after this World Cup. "This is why you see me here now. It means I will continue." Ronaldo also mentioned a conversation he had with the FPF president and with Jesus, emphasizing his belief that he can still help the national side achieve its goals.
"I still believe that I'm able to help the national team to reach what they want and will finish when I feel like I'm not doing anything here," he added. During Portugal's 1-0 win over Wales, Ronaldo recorded seven attempts on goal but failed to find the net before being substituted in the 65th minute for Gonçalo Ramos.
Jesus explained the change by saying fresh legs were needed to press the Welsh centre‑backs and to 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 physical demands placed on a player of Ronaldo's age.
Initially, Jesus had indicated that he intended to involve Ronaldo in the Norway game, albeit not as a starter. However, after the final whistle in Oslo, Ronaldo walked straight from the substitute bench down the tunnel, bypassing the customary team photo with the Portuguese supporters. Jesus later said that the timing of the match did not suit a Ronaldo appearance and that he had changed his mind in the heat of the moment. Anonymous sources speaking to The Athletic revealed that Ronaldo was visibly frustrated by being left out, noting that this was only the third occasion he had been an unused substitute for Portugal.
The previous instances were a Euro 2008 group match (when Portugal had already secured qualification) 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 season coaching Ronaldo at Al Nassr, guiding the Saudi club to a league title. The 72‑year‑old Portuguese manager has said that his decision to work in Saudi Arabia was largely motivated by Ronaldo's invitation and his willingness to coach the star forward. Nevertheless, Portuguese sports newspaper Record described the current situation as an "internal earthquake," reflecting the intensity of the dispute.
On Tuesday, Ronaldo posted a photo of himself in national training gear, accompanied by a heart emoji and the Portuguese flag, perhaps signaling a desire to mend fences. The following day, another leading outlet, A Bola, featured the headline "situacao de crise" (crisis situation) on its front page, while B24 reported that an "emergency" meeting had been arranged between 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 the coach and his captain, both of whom have expressed mutual respect. Publicly, Jesus has reiterated that Ronaldo remains a pivotal figure for Portugal, regardless of whether he plays.
At the start of the international break, Ronaldo acknowledged that some segments of Portuguese media and fans were questioning his place in the squad. "I feel the Portuguese fans like me, but I do understand that some TV channels want to criticise 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 record is unparalleled: 234 caps and 146 goals make him the most‑capped and highest‑scoring player in Portuguese history.
He has participated in twelve major tournaments, lifting the European Championship in 2016 and helping Portugal secure Nations League titles in 2019 and 2024. Despite his iconic status, the conversation about his future with the national team persists, fueled by concerns over his age, fitness, and the emergence of younger talents. The upcoming "crisis" meeting may prove decisive in defining the next chapter of Ronaldo's international career, whether that involves a gradual phase‑out, a renewed role as a mentor, or a surprising continuation as a key on‑field contributor. This story originally appeared in The Athletic.
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