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The September-October international break was filled with several dramatic storylines, most notably Cristiano Ronaldo's decision to abandon the Portugal camp.
A falling out with head coach Jorge Jesus over his playing time led Ronaldo to depart camp just two matches into the four-game window. His penalty for the walkout was a fine of €255 ($285.83)—not a typo—along with a 30-day suspension.
Portugal returns to action in a matter of weeks when club football takes a break for another international window in November, leaving Ronaldo's participation in those fixtures uncertain.
Will Ronaldo Play for Portugal in November?
This situation may require further clarification from the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF).
When the FPF officially confirmed Ronaldo's punishment on Oct. 19, no clarification was provided as to whether the 30-day ban began on that date or when Ronaldo was initially handed a provisional suspension on Oct. 9.
The details are crucial, as the November international window opens on Nov. 9, with Portugal's first match scheduled five days later against Denmark on Nov. 14.
If Ronaldo's 30-day ban accounts for time already served, he would be eligible to rejoin Jesus's squad on Nov. 9. However, if the suspension began from the date of the official statement, he would not only miss that match but also the following game against Wales on Nov. 17.
According to Sky Sports News, the prevailing belief is that Ronaldo's suspension did begin as far back as Oct. 9, suggesting he is expected to be available just ahead of the next international window.
Will Jorge Jesus Call Ronaldo Up to November Roster?
That raises an entirely separate question. Even if Ronaldo is technically eligible to represent Portugal, Jesus would be under no obligation to include the Al Nassr striker in his plans.
At the core of this whole saga is a rift between Ronaldo and Jesus, one that would need to be mended before either party could consider moving forward together.
Before Ronaldo was informed of his punishment, Jesus had already begun publicly reaching out in an attempt to reconcile.
"In the next call-up, if Cris is playing and wants to be in the national team, why not?" Jesus said.
"[Ronaldo] is the one who decides what he wants for his life. As it was before the first call-up, it will be the same before the second. We shared before the first, and if he's interested, we'll share again in the second."
Ultimately, the decision rests with Ronaldo, and his return is far from guaranteed. In fact, his sister recently hinted that the veteran striker may be on the verge of retiring from international football, leaving supporters anxiously waiting for Jesus to unveil his squad next month.