Nations League sees Cristiano Ronaldo's role under scrutiny

On Sunday evening, at Oslo's stadium, Portugal beat Norway 2-1 on the second matchday of the Nations League, while Jorge Jesus left Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench from kickoff, marking the first time since 2008 that he did not play.

Portugal wins 2-1 in Oslo

The Norwegians, made up of Erling Haaland's teammates, opened the scoring before the Seleçao turned the situation around with two goals. The result confirms Portugal's superiority in this group.

Jorge Jesus, who had promised playing time to Ronaldo, ultimately chose not to bring him on, the substitute remaining unused for the entire match. The Al‑Nassr player thus finished the game without touching the ball.

Clearly upset, Cristiano Ronaldo left the dressing room immediately after the final whistle, while his teammates celebrated the victory in the middle of the pitch. His hasty departure was noticed by the media present.

Jorge Jesus steers Portugal to group lead as Norway stumble in Oslo

Ronaldo's withdrawal marks a turning point

This sidelining is the first since the Euro 2008 friendly against Switzerland, where Portugal had no stakes. Between 2008 and 2026, Ronaldo had always started important matches, except for two World Cup 2022 games where he came on in the second half.

In 2022, he was present against Morocco in the quarter‑final and against Switzerland in the round of sixteen, but he still set foot on the pitch. Thus, the last episode where he was not in the starting lineup dates back more than a decade.

Jorge Jesus explains why Ronaldo stayed on the bench against Norway

Jesus's move indicates that the captain is no longer untouchable within the Seleçao, a major shift for the Portuguese squad. This development could influence tactical choices and the dressing‑room dynamic in the future.