Tension between Ronaldo and Jorge Jesus sees national team abandoned
On the night of September 27, at the stadium in Northern Europe, Portugal beat Norway 2‑1 in the Nations League while Cristiano Ronaldo remained on the bench for the full 90 minutes, only the third time in the national team and the second in official matches. When the final whistle blew, the captain walked off limping, without joining the group to thank the fans.
Jorge Jesus admitted after the match that he did not notice Ronaldo's late exit and revealed he had spoken with the forward, agreeing to keep him out of that fixture. On social media, Ronaldo simply posted a photograph with a message of support for the national team, without commenting on the incident.
Training tension before the match
Before that, the atmosphere was already one of discomfort and obvious tension, with training sessions without the captain and an urgent trip by Pedro Proença to Denmark to mediate the looming situation. On September 28, the team recovered from the match, but there was no media activity nor a collective training session, maintaining the atmosphere of uncertainty.
Conversations and statements from Jesus and Ronaldo
On the 29th, before training, Jorge Jesus was questioned by journalists about his relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo. “I talk to Cristiano Ronaldo every day and every minute,” the coach said, while the forward merely gave a thumbs‑up, confirming the conversation. Ronaldo, alongside João Félix and Francisco Conceição, did not take part in the training; he stepped onto the pitch but left immediately to carry out specific gym work at the hotel, as the Malmö stadium lacked suitable equipment.
Pedro Proença will not accompany Portugal to Copenhagen before Denmark
After the 2026 World Cup, Ronaldo even considered quitting the national team, but the arrival of Jorge Jesus, who had already worked with him at Al Nassr, changed his mind. It was agreed that the number 7 would play only two home matches in the first international break – against Wales on September 24 and against Norway on October 4 – staying out of the remaining fixtures.
Ronaldo leaves the national team camp
On the morning of September 30, as expected, Cristiano Ronaldo, Jorge Jesus and Pedro Proença met and resolved the situation. However, before the afternoon training, Rúben Dias and the coach took part in a press conference about the upcoming Denmark × Portugal clash, where Jesus reiterated the explanations regarding the controversy. After the briefing, Ronaldo did not attend the training and left the preparation centre in a van belonging to the Portuguese Football Federation.
Ronaldo's bench fury prompts urgent talk with Jesus in Malmo
The Portuguese Football Federation confirmed, in an official statement, Ronaldo's absence from training and disclosed that the captain used his private jet to fly from Madrid to Copenhagen and back. Simultaneously, SIC reported the federation's efforts to prevent the national captain's departure, highlighting the seriousness of the split between the parties.