Angry Cristiano Ronaldo leaves Portugal after being benched
Angry Cristiano Ronaldo announced on Wednesday via his own social‑media channels that he has left the Portugal squad. The 41‑year‑old star, who sat on the bench on Sunday against Norway, said he no longer wants to be part of the national team. Sjors Tanis Sport reported this as the latest update.
Reasons and confrontation
Ronaldo was dissatisfied because coach Jorge Jesus did not give him any playing time during the friendly match against Norway. Jesus stated after the press conference that Ronaldo would only stay on the bench if he was not needed, a remark that struck a wrong chord with the striker. The striker remained on the bench for the entire match, something that had not happened in a competitive international since 2008.
After a crisis meeting and a conversation with federation chairman Pedro Proença, Ronaldo wrote on his social‑media that he was leaving the training camp. He added that he would later tell the Portuguese public the truth about his departure. At the same time he wished the national team and all his teammates much success, without exception.
Formal confirmation and consequences
The Portuguese football federation confirmed the departure in a brief statement and emphasized that the preparation against Denmark and Norway will proceed as planned with the remaining 24 called‑up players. The Portuguese outlet O Jogo reported that Ronaldo will miss the next two matches and that this effectively means the end of his international career. Portugal plays Denmark on Thursday and wraps up the international period on Sunday with a home match against Wales.
Unexpected split: Ronaldo leaves the Portuguese camp in Denmark
Ronaldo has so far played 234 internationals for Portugal, scoring 146 times, making him the record holder for both number of caps and number of goals. Prior to this international period he had indicated that he would prefer to score his 1,000th goal wearing the Portugal shirt.
According to article 160, § 1 of the disciplinary regulations of the Portuguese football federation, a player who leaves a training camp without a valid reason can be sanctioned with a suspension of one to six months. For a professional player, a fine of between 5 and 10 UC can also be imposed, which amounts to roughly €500 to €1,000, with a unit value of €102.
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The decision of the 41‑year‑old star highlights the tension between his dissatisfaction over playing minutes and his impressive legacy as a record player. Moreover, federation chairman Pedro Proença immediately convened a crisis meeting on the plane, indicating that the federation is still seeking a solution to the situation that has arisen.