Wesley Sneijder says Jorge Jesus disrespected CR7 in Portugal farewell
On 5 November 2026 the 41‑year‑old Cristiano Ronaldo announced his retirement from Portugal’s national team, ending a 23‑year spell that left him with a record 234 caps and 146 goals, while former Netherlands midfielder Wesley Sneijder has now accused coach Jorge Jesus of disrespecting CR7.
His departure followed months of tension over his role after Jesus took charge of the Selecao in July 2026. During the September international break Ronaldo was reportedly sent to warm up for a Nations League match against Norway but remained on the bench, a move that has drawn fresh criticism about how a player of his stature should be handled as his role changes. The episode is said to have frustrated the forward, prompting him to leave the national‑team camp ahead of Portugal’s next fixture. Ronaldo later accepted a 30‑day suspension and a €255 fine from the Portuguese Football Federation, both of which expired before the November internationals. The former Real Madrid and Inter midfielder was backed by former Netherlands international Theo Janssen, who called the treatment “scandalous” and said a player of Ronaldo’s stature deserved greater consideration. Sneijder specifically condemned the decision to send Ronaldo out to warm up before leaving him on the bench.
He believes Jesus ought to have spoken directly to the forward before the match and explained his intentions honestly, so Ronaldo could understand his role without a public humiliation. “Disrespectful. I find it really disrespectful, I really mean that. As a coach you should have sat down with him beforehand. Like: listen, this is how I see it,” Sneijder said.
Sneijder added that a private coffee chat would have prevented the episode from becoming a public controversy, saying: “You can’t let a moment like the one that has now happened arise, in his very last match. You can’t let that happen!” “What Jesus should have done is to speak with him privately,” he argued, before concluding that the final decision should have been left to Ronaldo after an honest discussion.