Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has left the national team's training camp in Copenhagen amid reports of tension between the 41-year-old forward and head coach Jorge Jesus over his role in the team.
Ronaldo confirmed his departure on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, just a day before Portugal's UEFA Nations League encounter against Denmark, following several days in which he did not train normally with the rest of the squad.
The Portuguese Football Federation also confirmed that Ronaldo had left the camp, saying preparations for the upcoming matches would continue with the remaining 24 players.
Ronaldo subsequently released a statement explaining that he made the decision following Jesus' press conference and a conversation with Portuguese Football Federation President Pedro Proença.
“Following the national team manager's press conference, and after a conversation with the President of the Portuguese Football Federation, I have decided to leave the national team's training camp,” Ronaldo said.
He added that he would explain the circumstances surrounding his departure later.
“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.”
Ronaldo ended the message by wishing Portugal and his teammates good luck.
The development followed Portugal's 2-1 Nations League victory over Norway on Sunday.
Ronaldo was an unused substitute during the match after Jesus decided against bringing the veteran forward onto the pitch.
Jesus later acknowledged that he had initially told Ronaldo he could be introduced from the bench but changed his decision because of how the match developed.
The coach also acknowledged that Ronaldo was unhappy about not playing.
“Ronaldo was angry with me, but as far as I'm concerned, that's water under the bridge,” Jesus said.
After the Norway match, Ronaldo did not train on the pitch with his teammates on Monday and Tuesday.
Instead, he carried out individual work in the gym.
The development generated reports in Portugal that there was disagreement between the captain and the new national team coach.
Jesus rejected claims that Ronaldo had refused to train.
“He didn't refuse. He's going to train today,” the coach told journalists before Wednesday's scheduled training session.
Jesus also insisted there had been no serious confrontation between the pair.
According to him, Ronaldo had accepted that team selection remained the coach's responsibility.
Jesus quoted Ronaldo as telling him: “I'm here for you to decide. If you want me to play, I'll play. If you want me to go to the stands, I'll go.”
However, events changed shortly after the press conference.
Ronaldo did not join the rest of the Portugal squad for training at Parken Stadium in Copenhagen.
Portuguese media published footage appearing to show the captain leaving the stadium in a Portuguese Football Federation vehicle.
Ronaldo subsequently announced that he had left the camp.
The timing attracted attention because Jesus had told journalists only shortly beforehand that Ronaldo would participate in training.
The coach had also confirmed that Gonçalo Ramos was expected to start ahead of Ronaldo against Denmark.
“If I need Ronaldo, he'll come on. If I don't need him, he won't,” Jesus said while discussing his selection.
The Portuguese Football Federation later issued a statement confirming Ronaldo's departure without providing details about the reasons.
“Preparation for the two matches against Denmark and Norway continues as planned with the 24 remaining squad members,” the federation said.
It added that the entire delegation remained focused on Portugal's forthcoming fixtures and achieving the team's objectives.
Ronaldo's departure follows a significant change in his role with Portugal under Jesus.
The forward started Portugal's Nations League match against Wales earlier in the international window but was substituted after 67 minutes.
He was then left on the bench throughout the 2-1 victory over Norway.
Gonçalo Ramos, who has been competing with Ronaldo for the central attacking position, scored the winning goal against Norway and was subsequently selected by Jesus to start against Denmark.
Jesus took charge of Portugal following the departure of Roberto Martínez after the 2026 World Cup.
The appointment reunited Jesus with Ronaldo after the pair previously worked together at Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr.
Ronaldo remains one of the most accomplished international footballers in history.
He has made a record 234 appearances for Portugal and scored 146 international goals, making him the leading goalscorer in men's international football.
The forward has also been pursuing the landmark of 1,000 senior career goals.
Despite turning 41 in February, Ronaldo continued playing international football after the 2026 World Cup.
He had previously indicated that the tournament would be his final World Cup but did not immediately retire from the national team.
His latest departure from camp has therefore attracted significant attention over what comes next in his long Portugal career.
Ronaldo's statement did not announce his retirement.
He also did not directly accuse Jesus of mistreating him or publicly identify a disagreement with the coach as the reason for leaving.
Instead, the Portugal captain said he would explain the reasons for his departure “in due course.”
Jesus, meanwhile, has maintained that there was no major dispute.
The coach acknowledged Ronaldo's disappointment after being left unused against Norway but said such reactions were normal for players who expect to participate.
“There was no incident whatsoever,” Jesus said.
“Any player — and I was a player myself — when you spend 20 or 30 minutes warming up and then don't get on, no-one is happy about that.”
The coach also made clear that selection decisions would remain his responsibility regardless of a player's reputation or previous achievements.
Portugal will now continue its Nations League campaign without its captain for the immediate fixtures.
The team faces Denmark in Copenhagen before another match against Norway.
The Portuguese federation said all other members of the squad remained focused on those games.
Ronaldo's sister, Elma Aveiro, has also publicly defended her brother following his departure.
She shared comments on social media criticising what she considered a lack of respect towards Ronaldo and questioning how the national-team captain had been treated.
Her intervention followed the widespread debate in Portugal surrounding her brother's reduced role under Jesus.
For now, Ronaldo's own statement remains the clearest account of his decision.
He confirmed that he left following Jesus' press conference and after speaking with federation president Pedro Proença, but stopped short of explaining exactly what prompted the departure.
Jesus has confirmed Ronaldo was unhappy after not playing against Norway while denying that the disagreement amounted to a serious confrontation.
What happens next will depend partly on the explanation Ronaldo has promised to give.
Until then, the established facts are that the 41-year-old was left unused against Norway, trained separately from the squad afterwards, was told he would not start against Denmark and subsequently left Portugal's Copenhagen camp after discussions involving the federation president.
Ronaldo has not announced his international retirement and has promised to tell Portuguese supporters the reasons behind his decision at a later date.
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