Oct 3·Sports
Follow-up 2h ago4
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Fernandes defends Ronaldo as Portugal's greatest icon after squad departure
Bruno Fernandes publicly reaffirmed that Cristiano Ronaldo remains Portugal's greatest footballing icon after the 41-year-old's departure from the national squad following his exclusion from the Denmark match. Fernandes called for national unity and denied divisions within the team, emphasizing that Ronaldo deserves universal respect regardless of recent tensions with coach Jorge Jesus. Portugal, unbeaten without Ronaldo in the Nations League, faces Norway at home on Sunday.
Quick Facts
- Ronaldo withdrew from Portugal squad after being excluded from Denmark match
- Portugal defeated Denmark 4-2 without Ronaldo
- Fernandes publicly defended Ronaldo's legacy and called for national unity
- Fernandes spoke directly with Ronaldo to express admiration
- Jorge Jesus declined to elaborate on disagreement with Ronaldo
Bruno Fernandes has reaffirmed Cristiano Ronaldo's status as Portugal's greatest footballing figure, following the 41-year-old's withdrawal from the national squad this week. Ronaldo departed after learning he would not start in Portugal's Nations League match against Denmark, which the team won 4-2 without him. Fernandes, speaking at a Portugal news conference on Saturday, said he had directly spoken with Ronaldo and emphasized that the forward's legacy would remain undiminished regardless of future developments. "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 stated.
Fernandes called for unity within Portuguese football and the broader fanbase, denying reports of internal team divisions. "There are no divisions in the national team. It is one and will remain so, despite any noise that may come from outside," he said. The Manchester United midfielder appealed to supporters and stakeholders to avoid taking sides in the controversy. "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," Fernandes added.
Coach Jorge Jesus acknowledged Ronaldo's symbolic importance to Portugal but declined to elaborate on the specifics of their disagreement, saying the matter would be addressed after Portugal's upcoming home match against Norway on Sunday. Jesus stated: "I can't ignore Cristiano Ronaldo topic. Cris is a symbol of the Portuguese national team. He is a symbol of Portugal. Let that be absolutely clear." The 72-year-old coach indicated his immediate focus was on the team's performance rather than the controversy. Portugal currently sits atop Group A4 in the Nations League with nine points from three matches, having won against Wales (1-0), Norway (2-1 away), and Denmark (4-2).
Ronaldo's international future remains uncertain. The former Real Madrid attacker holds the records for most goals (146) and most appearances (234) in men's international football. He has been an unused substitute in one Nations League fixture and has now withdrawn from the squad. His absence has coincided with improved offensive performance: Portuguese statistics since the start of 2025 show an 80 percent win rate without Ronaldo across five matches, compared to 59 percent in 17 matches when he played, alongside nearly double the goals per match without him (3.4 versus 1.9).
Portugal faces Norway again at the Estádio do Dragão in Porto on Sunday. The team concludes its group-stage campaign with home and away fixtures against Denmark and Wales in November. If Portugal finishes in the top two of their section, they will advance to the quarter-finals in March.
Topics
Why This Matters
Ronaldo's departure from Portugal's squad removes the nation's all-time leading scorer (146 goals, 234 appearances) amid reported disagreement with coach Jorge Jesus. The controversy occurs during Portugal's Nations League group stage, where statistical data shows the team's win rate increased from 59% (with Ronaldo in 17 matches) to 80% (without him in five matches since early 2025), with goals per match nearly doubling from 1.9 to 3.4. Portugal leads Group A4 with nine points and faces Norway (home) on Sunday, followed by November fixtures against Denmark and Wales. The outcome of Portugal's remaining matches and tournament advancement to quarter-finals depend partly on team cohesion during this period of internal tension.
Timeline & Sources
Sep 29, 2026
WirePortugal defeats Wales 1-0; Ronaldo plays opening 67 minutes
Oct 1, 2026
WirePortugal wins 2-1 away against Norway; Ronaldo remains unused substitute
Nov 14, 2026
WirePortugal plays Denmark at home in final group match
Nov 17, 2026
WirePortugal plays Wales away in final group match
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Sources
- Cristiano Ronaldo: Bruno Fernandes says absent superstar is 'greatest symbol of Portugal'BBCMediaOct 3, 2026
- Ronaldo is Portugal’s greatest icon, says Bruno FernandesPunch NewspapersMediaOct 3, 2026
- Fernandes : le différend entre Ronaldo et Jesus ne doit pas diviser le PortugalFotMobMediaOct 3, 2026
- Fernandes calls Ronaldo and denies Portugal rift ahead of Norway gameAl JazeeraMediaOct 4, 2026