Ronaldo leaves Portugal camp after dispute with coach Jorge Jesus

Cristiano Ronaldo left Portugal's training camp in late September 2026, ahead of a Nations League match away to Denmark. The departure followed a dispute with head coach Jorge Jesus over Ronaldo's lack of playing time in the previous game, a 2-1 win over Norway, in which the captain did not play.

Jesus said Ronaldo would not start against Denmark and acknowledged that the forward was disappointed at being left on the bench. He first denied any rift. The Portuguese football federation (FPF) then confirmed that Ronaldo had left the camp, and said preparations would go on with the remaining 24 players. Ronaldo later said he would explain his decision "at the right time".

The episode mattered because Ronaldo, Portugal's record goalscorer and most-capped player, had never before walked out of a national-team camp in more than two decades with the team. It raised immediate doubts about his international future and about how his relationship with Jesus would develop. Those doubts led to the later announcement of his retirement from the national side.