Ronaldo walks out of Portugal camp after second successive benching

Web Desk 

COPENHAGEN: Cristiano Ronaldo left Portugal’s training camp abruptly after coach Jorge Jesus confirmed that the veteran forward would again start on the bench against Denmark, deepening tensions around the country’s most decorated international player.

Ronaldo was due to train with his teammates at Copenhagen’s Parken Stadium on Wednesday ahead of Thursday’s Nations League clash. However, he left the camp shortly after Jesus’s press conference, in which the coach said AC Milan striker Goncalo Ramos would again be his preferred starter.

Ronaldo later confirmed his departure in a post on Instagram, saying he had spoken with Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proenca before deciding to leave the squad.

“Following the national team coach’s press conference, and after having a conversation with the Portuguese Football Federation president, I decided to leave the national team’s training camp,” Ronaldo wrote.

The 41-year-old suggested that he would later explain his reasons for leaving, saying he remained dedicated to Portugal but that the time had come to depart the camp.

“In due course, I will tell the truth to all the Portuguese people about my reasons for leaving the national team,” he said, before wishing Portugal and his teammates success.

The Portuguese federation subsequently confirmed Ronaldo’s departure, saying preparations for the remaining fixtures would continue with the other 24 players in the squad.

The development came after Ronaldo had spent the entire 2-1 victory over Norway on Sunday on the bench. It was the first time since November 2024 that he had failed to appear for Portugal while neither injured nor suspended.

Jesus, who previously coached Ronaldo at Saudi club Al-Nassr, insisted there had been no confrontation between them. “There was no incident whatsoever,” Jesus said.

The 72-year-old coach acknowledged that Ronaldo was naturally disappointed after warming up but not being introduced against Norway. He said he had informed the forward before the match that he might come on as a substitute, but ultimately decided against making the change.

“Afterwards, as coach, I decided not to bring him on. It’s nothing to make a fuss about,” Jesus said. Jesus also rejected reports that Ronaldo had refused to train earlier in the week, explaining that the forward had instead completed individual exercises focused on mobility and strengthening.

Despite being expected to train normally on Wednesday, Ronaldo did not join his teammates on the pitch after arriving at the stadium with the squad. Portuguese media later reported that he left the venue with two members of the backroom staff. Jesus had made clear that Ramos would again lead the attack against Denmark.

“If everything goes according to plan, it will be Goncalo who plays,” he said, while adding of Ronaldo: “If I need him, he’ll come on. If I don’t need him, he won’t.”

Portugal subsequently defeated Denmark 4-2, with Ronaldo absent from the squad. After the victory, Jesus said the team’s performance was more important than the controversy surrounding Ronaldo, while reiterating that selection rules applied equally to all players.

“This Portugal team scored four goals and put in a performance which, in my opinion, was of a very high standard,” he said. “Of course, this is more important than anything else that has happened.”

Ronaldo’s departure also triggered a strong reaction on social media, including from his sister Elma Aveiro, who criticised the Portuguese public over its treatment of the veteran star. The latest episode comes as Ronaldo approaches the end of his international career. He announced this summer that the current season would “probably” be his last in football.

Ronaldo remains Portugal’s most capped player and leading international goalscorer, with 234 appearances and 146 goals. He made his international debut in 2003 at the age of 18, reached the Euro 2004 final and later captained Portugal to European Championship glory in 2016.