Bruno Fernandes has said Cristiano Ronaldo will remain the greatest symbol of Portugal’s national team regardless of the 41-year-old’s departure from the squad this week. Ronaldo left the camp after head coach Jorge Jesus told him he would not start against Denmark in the Nations League — a match Portugal went on to win 4-2 without him.
Speaking at a Portugal news conference on Saturday, the Manchester United midfielder revealed he had spoken to Ronaldo directly. “What I told him, and what I repeat here, is regardless of what happens, Cristiano Ronaldo will never cease to be the greatest symbol of our national team, of our football, and of the country, for what he has done not only in Portugal but throughout the world,” Fernandes said.
He added that Ronaldo “has a reserved place not only among the best of all time, but also in the hearts of all Portuguese people”, and used the occasion to appeal for calm. “The most important thing is that we stop dividing things,” Fernandes said. “There are no divisions in the national team. It is one and will remain so, despite any noise that may come from outside. We are outside of this controversy, but what I ask is that the country does not divide itself, does not make choices, that it respects all sides. Cris is and will be the biggest icon of our national team, he deserves everyone’s respect, regardless of who likes him more or less.”
Ronaldo’s standing rests on a record that is unlikely to be matched soon. He has scored 146 goals in 234 appearances for Portugal, both record figures for the country, and was part of the squads that won Euro 2016 and lifted the Nations League twice. His international future, however, now appears to be in doubt.
Portugal are the current Nations League holders, having beaten Spain on penalties in the 2025 final after a 2-2 draw in which Ronaldo scored one of his team’s goals. They also reached the last 16 of this summer’s World Cup before losing 1-0 to eventual champions Spain, a tournament after which then-manager Roberto Martinez was criticised for rarely substituting Ronaldo even when he was playing poorly. Jesus, who had been Ronaldo’s club manager at Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr, replaced Martinez for the Nations League campaign.
Portugal began that campaign with a 1-0 home win over Wales, a match in which Ronaldo played the opening 67 minutes. He was then an unused substitute in the 2-1 away victory over Norway, before leaving the squad ahead of the Denmark fixture.
Jesus has described Ronaldo as a “symbol of Portugal” and said there would be time to discuss him after Sunday’s game. “I’m going to focus on the team, on the opponent which is Norway, one of the five best teams in Europe. That’s the problem right now,” said the 72-year-old coach.
After three matches, Portugal sit top of Group A4 with nine points from nine and host Norway on Sunday. They complete the group phase next month with a home match against Denmark on 14 November followed by a game in Wales on 17 November. Finishing in the top two of the section would qualify them for the quarter-finals in March, before the semi-finals and final are held in June.