Cristiano Ronaldo left Portugal's training camp on 30 September 2026, one day before Portugal face Denmark in the Nations League. He had sat unused through the 2-1 win over Norway on 27 September despite warming up, then walked straight to the tunnel instead of greeting fans. He trained alone in the gym on 28-29 September. FPF president Pedro Proença traveled to Copenhagen to meet Ronaldo and coach Jorge Jesus, appointed 10 July 2026 after the World Cup loss to Spain and Ronaldo's former Al-Nassr coach. Ronaldo said the move followed Jesus's press conference and a talk with Proença. "In due course, I will tell all Portuguese people the truth about the reasons behind my departure from the national team, to which I have always been fully committed," he wrote, and wished teammates luck without exception. Jesus said Ronaldo did not refuse and would train that day. "They forced me to talk to Cris about an issue that didn't exist. There was nothing to talk about," Jesus said, quoting Ronaldo as ready to play or go to the stands as decided, and calling any anger water under the bridge. Outlets framed a rift or clash; Jesus said none existed. Ronaldo, on 146 goals and 234 caps, said he would explain later.
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This could be the right call if he's not at his best, but it still feels like a big blow to team morale heading into that match.
Ronaldo leaving now puts extra pressure on the rest of the squad to deliver against Denmark without their main threat.
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