It is highly likely that we have already witnessed Cristiano Ronaldo’s final appearance for the Portuguese national team. It is very sad to see the light fading on the Iberian nation’s biggest star, who is also leaving on bad terms with both his manager and the Portuguese Football Federation.
The bombshell dropped in recent days when Cristiano Ronaldo refused to train and subsequently left Portugal’s training camp, believing that the manager had gone back on his word and snubbed him. The No. 7 then arranged a meeting with the manager and the president of the Portuguese Football Federation, who had to rush to Denmark to mediate.
The outcome is now well known and could have both sporting and financial consequences. His act of indiscipline could result in a suspension of between one and six months from the national team, as well as a fine of approximately €500 to €1,000.
Jorge Jesús took over as Portugal manager after the 2026 World Cup, replacing Roberto Martínez. He joined from Al Nassr, having won the league there with Cristiano Ronaldo as his star player.
Jorge Jesús had already hinted during his unveiling that Cristiano’s days as an undisputed first-team regular were over, although he added that there would be no problem selecting him if the player continued to perform at a high level. Cristiano Ronaldo himself had expressed a similar view, admitting that he would have no problem stepping aside from the national team when the time came.
At the start of this international break, during which Portugal will play four Nations League matches, Jorge Jesús reportedly called Cristiano to explain that playing all four games would represent too great a physical burden and that he would therefore be on the bench for some of them.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s anger reportedly stemmed from being made to warm up for half an hour during the match against Norway without ultimately being brought onto the pitch. It was the first time since Euro 2008 that Cristiano Ronaldo had been called up for Portugal but failed to play a single minute.
According to Edu Aguirre, a Spanish journalist with close ties to Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese manager apologised to the player in person and told him that he would also offer a public apology at a press conference. However, nothing could be further from the truth. At that press conference, Jorge Jesús did not apologise; instead, he stated that no player was above him.
Those comments only served to fan the flames. They infuriated Cristiano, who quickly called for a car from the federation and headed for Copenhagen Airport.
Cristiano Ronaldo has shown that his words do not always match his actions.
“If the manager doesn’t count on me, I can leave today, no problem. When they no longer want me in the national team, when I feel I’m not doing anything here, that I’m not contributing anything on the pitch, that I’m not scoring goals or creating a good atmosphere, or that they don’t want me here, I’ll grab the ball and leave,” Cristiano once declared at a press conference.
However, his relentless ambition seems to prevent him from accepting that even a player of his status cannot remain indispensable forever. At 41, he remains as ambitious as ever, but his desire to stay at the top has also led him to leave several clubs and environments on bad terms.
That happened at Real Madrid after he rejected a contract renewal offer, at Manchester United during his second spell following his disagreements with Erik ten Hag and now with the Portuguese national team.
His decision to leave the training camp could have been handled with greater maturity, but once again, his behaviour has left a sour taste. In an Instagram post, he stated that he would tell the truth “in due course”.
Portugal, meanwhile, appears to have drawn a line under the matter and is already moving towards a new post-Cristiano era. In today’s match against Denmark, the legendary No. 7 shirt will be worn by Rafael Leão.
In this situation, the only loser is Cristiano Ronaldo. His legacy as a footballer is beyond question, but this episode could cast another shadow over his reputation among the Portuguese public.
However, the team could ultimately benefit from his absence. For several years now, it has been argued that Cristiano Ronaldo’s contribution on the pitch no longer justified his automatic place in the starting XI, and that his status and reputation played a major role in keeping him there.
Portugal boasts one of the most talented generations in its history, but in many phases of the game, the team has effectively been playing with ten men because of Cristiano Ronaldo’s limited defensive contribution and his increasing difficulty keeping up with the pace and intensity of modern football.
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