Cristiano Ronaldo’s decision to leave Portugal’s training camp has escalated a growing dispute with coach Jorge Jesus, drawing FPF president Pedro Proenca directly into the controversy. What began with a contentious selection call against Norway has evolved into an urgent effort to determine whether the captain can be persuaded to remain with the national squad.
Ronaldo announced his departure on September 30, 2026, shortly after Jesus addressed the matter in his pre-match press conference ahead of the Denmark fixture. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner indicated he intends to explain his reasoning eventually, but for the moment he has withdrawn from a squad currently leading its Nations League group.
Tension surfaced after Portugal’s 2-1 victory over Norway, when Ronaldo remained on the bench despite having warmed up extensively. Jesus had previously suggested the captain might feature, but ultimately opted not to include him, leaving Ronaldo visibly displeased after the final whistle.
The experienced manager downplayed the severity of the situation and denied any major disagreement with his captain. He noted that Ronaldo had been unhappy about warming up without being used, but characterized such frustration as understandable rather than indicative of a deeper conflict. “There was no incident whatsoever,” he stated.
“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 maintained that Ronaldo had not refused to train, explaining that his individual session focused on mobility and strengthening work. Jesus expected the forward to resume normal team training before the Denmark match.
Ronaldo announces his departure
The situation intensified when Ronaldo failed to appear for the scheduled training session in Copenhagen. Portuguese media reported that he left Parken Stadium in a federation vehicle, before the Portugal captain announced on social media that he had decided to leave the camp.
“After the press conference of the national team and following a conversation with the president of the Portuguese Football Federation, I have decided to leave the national team training camp,” Ronaldo wrote.
He promised to reveal more about the circumstances behind his decision while expressing that he still wished Portugal and his teammates well. “In time, I will tell all the Portuguese the truth about the reasons that motivated me to leave,” the 41-year-old added.
Jesus and Proenca make one final desperate attempt
The departure did not immediately end efforts to keep Ronaldo with the squad. According to Spanish newspaper Marca, Jorge Jesus and FPF president Pedro Proenca followed Ronaldo to the airport in Copenhagen in an attempt to persuade him to remain in Denmark with the rest of the national team.
Head coach Jorge Jesus interacts with Cristiano Ronaldo of Al Nassr. (Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)
Their reported intervention underscores how seriously the situation had escalated behind the scenes. Despite the effort, the veteran forward reportedly refused to stay, boarded his flight, and left Copenhagen, with the episode now raising significant questions about his relationship with the national team.
The FPF subsequently confirmed Ronaldo’s departure and stated that the remaining 24 players would continue preparations for the upcoming fixtures. “The entire delegation remains totally focused on the national team’s next fixtures and on achieving the established objectives,” the federation said.
