It was not supposed to end this way | OneFootball

Cristiano Ronaldo brings the curtain on his Portugal career

A rift between new Portugal coach Jorge Jesus and captain Cristiano Ronaldo has led the latter to abandon the Seleção training camp in his private jet one day before the team face Denmark in Copenhagen in a Nations League match.

Ronaldo started Sunday’s game against Norway on the bench. A disagreement was caused by the fact Jesus did not bring on Ronaldo in the second half as promised, possibly exacerbated by the coach asking him to warm up for most of the final half hour.

Jorge Jesus initially suggested the situation had been resolved in his pre-match press conference this afternoon, but it was precisely the content of the press conference that appears to have irked Ronaldo even more.

The Portugal superstar has not spoken to any media about his decision, but left the following message on his Instagram account:

“After the press conference of the national team manager, and following a conversation with the President of the Portuguese Football Federation, I have taken the decision to leave the national team training camp.“In good time, I will tell the truth to all the Portuguese people about the reasons that led me to leave the national team, to which I have always dedicated myself.

If it is the end of Ronaldo and the Seleção, it is the most unsatisfactory way to close what has been a truly extraordinary career for Portugal.

Driving Portugal to new heights

What can be considered Portugal’s golden era as a national football team has coincided with Ronaldo’s career. With the Madeiran-born star in the side the Seleção won their first – and to date only – major title, Euro 2016, reached a World Cup semi-final (2006), another European Championship final (2004) and semi-final (2012), in addition to lifting the Nations League trophy twice (2019 and 2025).

Ronaldo’s remarkable longevity has also left an indelible mark and quite possibly never-to-be-beaten records in terms of individual statistics in the men’s game for appearances (226) and goals (146).

Nevertheless, in recent years Ronaldo’s role for Portugal has been the focus of intense debate in his home country. Moreover, the manner in which he left the Seleção committee in Scandinavia has been heavily criticised in many sectors of the Portuguese media and by fans on social networks.

The news has received blanket coverage in Portugal with coach Jorge Jesus admitting he hopes the bombshell will not affect the players as they prepare for tomorrow’s match against Denmark and a new post-CR7 era for the Seleção.