Cristiano Ronaldo’s relationship with Portugal coach Jorge Jesus has broken down, and the fallout has now seen the forward walk out of the national team’s training camp. The dispute did not flare up in a single moment but built across a run of matches, and it leaves open the question of whether Ronaldo has played his final game for his country.
Jorge Jesus had, despite the rumours that surrounded the squad, decided to call Ronaldo up for four matches. The two men reached an understanding at the outset: the number 7 would play the first match, against Wales, and the fourth, against Norway on October 4. Ronaldo started against Wales and played the first 66 minutes, scoring a goal that was disallowed.
The problems began around the second match, against Norway. On the morning of that game, Jorge Jesus changed his mind and told Ronaldo that he needed him after all and that he might be given the last half hour. The match was level at 1-1 in the 51st minute after a goal from Haaland, and Ronaldo began to warm up. Portugal then went 1-2 up in the 54th minute, and with the team now needing to protect the result the situation no longer allowed the number 7 to come on. He warmed up for half an hour, did not play, and left the stadium angry.
The following Tuesday, Ronaldo did not train with the group in Denmark. He went to the hotel while the session took place and worked alone in the gym.
The decisive moment came with Jorge Jesus’s press conference. Ronaldo listened to his coach’s explanations and was not convinced by them. Jorge Jesus described the episode as “a moment of frustration that lasts 10, 15 or 20 seconds”. Rather than rejoin the group, Ronaldo left the training camp, and was expected to take his private plane to Madrid, arriving that night.
Whether this amounts to a farewell to the national team is hard to judge at this stage, given how recent the events are. But the 146 goals Ronaldo has scored in 234 matches for Portugal may have come to an end.