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A decision by Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus to leave Cristiano Ronaldo out of the starting lineup against Norway last Sunday has been described in a domestic report as "the root of an internal earthquake."
The fact that Ronaldo is even included in the squad for this extended international break comes as something of a surprise. The 2026 World Cup represented the end of a natural era, and even the 41-year-old's own sister had predicted the tournament would be his "last dance" in a Portugal shirt.
Lionel Messi, by contrast, has permanently retired from international duty with Argentina, with the sole exception of one final farewell appearance in a friendly against Benin next week.
Newly appointed Portugal manager Jesus confirmed he planned to field Ronaldo in last Thursday's UEFA Nations League clash against Wales. The five-time Ballon d'Or recipient played 67 minutes but made little impact. He registered 1.03 in xG, yet failed to hit the target with three of his five attempts and spent much of the game waiting for service from his teammates.
Ronaldo was then named among the substitutes for the following fixture against Norway in Oslo. Jesus explained afterwards that he had planned to bring the Al Nassr forward on for roughly 30 minutes in the second half, but felt during the game it "wasn't the right moment." He stated, "It was a tactical choice ... I needed a player with different characteristics, but that doesn't mean he's out."
President Flies in for Crisis Talks
But Ronaldo, even at this point in his career, remains highly sensitive to what he perceives as a slight. In Portugal, Record reports he "was unhappy" at being left unused, noting that a "tense and uncomfortable" atmosphere subsequently took hold within the Portuguese camp.
On Tuesday evening, Ronaldo, Jesus, and Pedro Proença, president of the Portuguese football federation, were scheduled to meet in Malmö, Sweden, where the squad had already arrived ahead of their next fixture across the Øresund Bridge in Denmark. Reports indicated that Proença altered his plans at the eleventh hour to fly into Copenhagen for the emergency summit, having originally been due in the Azores — 870 miles off the western tip of mainland Europe — to watch Portugal's U-21 side in action.
Ultimately, Proença's involvement as mediator may not have been required. Ronaldo and Jesus had apparently had a disagreement before Portugal's scheduled training session on Tuesday at Eleda Stadion in Malmö. The veteran forward did not take part in the session despite arriving with the rest of the squad, opting instead for individual gym work. The two had been spotted in conversation shortly before Ronaldo made his way inside.
However, RTP reported late on Tuesday that a second exchange between Ronaldo and Jesus — apparently taking place before Proença had touched down — helped to defuse any further escalation. The broadcaster now describes the situation as "resolved."
What Next for an Aging Ronaldo?
The question now falls to Jesus regarding how he will deploy Ronaldo against Denmark. Portugal secured a hard-fought victory in Norway without him, with Bernardo Silva drawing the wrath of the home supporters for his physical treatment of Martin Ødegaard, and the team could be said to have carried their veteran talisman through the Wales encounter.
Following the Denmark fixture, Portugal has one remaining game in this international window, a home tie against Norway.
The Nations League, a competition Ronaldo has lifted twice previously, resumes in November. The group stage concludes at that point, with the knockout rounds for League A sides getting underway in March. The final is set for June 13, 2027.
Ronaldo, who has strongly hinted that this will be his final season as a professional given that his Al Nassr deal runs out next summer, could feasibly hold on in the hope that Portugal reaches the final once more. It is not out of the question that such a match could be his last ever — and what a farewell that would be ... provided his side comes out on top. They may well need to carry him every step of the way to get there.