Cristiano Ronaldo leaves Portugal camp after clash with coach Jorge Jesus

Cristiano Ronaldo announced on September 30 that he has left Portugal's national team training camp in Copenhagen following a dispute with head coach Jorge Jesus. Ronaldo, 41, posted on Instagram that he made the decision after Jesus's press conference and a conversation with Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) president Pedro Proença, stating he would explain his reasons "in due time" to Portuguese supporters.

The departure culminates a week of escalating tension. Ronaldo was benched in Portugal's 2-1 Nations League victory over Norway on September 27, with Jorge Jesus opting to start Gonçalo Ramos instead. Sources report Ronaldo missed training sessions on September 28 and 29, and skipped the third consecutive training session on September 30 before announcing his exit. Jesus had stated in his pre-match press conference that Ronaldo would participate in training and that tactical decisions would not be influenced by any player's status, saying "the rules are equal for everyone."

Jesus revealed he had informed Ronaldo before the Norway match that he would not play in that fixture or the upcoming Denmark game, citing his knowledge of Ronaldo's physical condition from their year together at Al-Nassr. The coach emphasized that all players, regardless of their career achievements, are subject to the same rules and that playing time decisions rest solely with the coaching staff. After Jesus's statements, Ronaldo left the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen and boarded his private aircraft, reportedly headed to Madrid.

The FPF confirmed Ronaldo's departure in an official statement, noting that preparations for upcoming fixtures against Denmark and Norway would continue with the remaining 24 players. The federation stated it maintains focus on upcoming Nations League commitments. This incident marks a significant rupture between one of football's most decorated players and the Portuguese national team, with Ronaldo's future involvement remaining uncertain. He has scored 146 goals in 234 appearances for Portugal across his international career.