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Cristiano Ronaldo’s future with the Portugal national team is now in doubt. The 41 year old striker left the team’s training camp just a day before Portugal’s UEFA Nations League match which was against Denmark, after he got the information that he would not be in the starting 11 of the game.
Here at Pampredict, we bring you the full story behind his shocking exit and what it means for his international future.
What Happened
Portugal’s new head coach, Jorge Jesus, made an announcement on Wednesday, September 30, that Ronaldo would not be in the starting line-up in the match against Denmark. Shortly after, Ronaldo’s team confirmed that he had left the team’s camp.
This was not a sudden decision made without any careful considerations. Ronaldo had started Portugal’s previous match, a 1-0 win over Wales, which was Jesus’s first game as the head coach of the team. He was later substituted into the match in the 67th minute.
In the next match, a 2-1 win over Norway, Ronaldo was left on the bench without playing any single minutes for the national team. Jesus later said he had planned to bring Ronaldo later on late in that game but changed his mind and kept Gonçalo Ramos playing instead.
Ronaldo was clearly unhappy about being benched for the game. Jesus admitted this but insisted that there was no serious conflict between him and the forward player. Before leaving the training camp, Ronaldo said he had spoken with the Portuguese Football Federation president named Pedro Proença. He also said he would explain his reasons for leaving the camp “at a later date.”
Portugal Won Without Him
Despite losing their captain just before kickoff, Portugal did not struggle to win the match. They won against Denmark 4-2 in Copenhagen on Thursday, October 1. João Cancelo, Gonçalo Ramos, Vitinha, and João Félix all scored and contributed heavily for Portugal winnings.
The match outcome showed that Portugal can still perform at a high level, even without Ronaldo leading the attack. It also raised a bigger question: how much does the team still need him?
Ronaldo’s No. 7 Shirt Goes to Rafael Leão
In Ronaldo’s absence, an important event took place. UEFA confirmed that Rafael Leão, who usually wears the No. 17 shirt for Portugal, switched to Ronaldo’s iconic No. 7 shirt in the match against Denmark and the game that followed which was against Norway.
This change was not made as a tribute. According to the UEFA Nations League rules, squads have to use shirt numbers starting from 1 to 23 without skipping any single number. Since Ronaldo was no longer in the starting lineup for the squad, the No. 7 shirt needed a new owner. Fábio Silva was then given Leão’s old No. 17 shirt.
Still, another player wearing Ronaldo’s iconic number added extra weight during an already unusual week for Portugal.
Why This Matters
Ronaldo is not just another player that played for Portugal. He is the country’s highest goalscorer and has earned more caps than anyone else in the history of the team. For nearly two decades, he has been at the heart of every important moment in Portuguese football.
This makes his sudden exit from team camp more than a simple disagreement over choice of team selection. It raises real questions about what is going to happen next for both Ronaldo and the national team.
Jesus has defended his decision, saying the same selection rules apply to every player of the squad. Reports have it that both Jesus and FPF president Pedro Proença tried to convince Ronaldo to stay in the team, but he still chose to leave anyway.
What Happens Next?
Cristiano Ronaldo has not announced his retirement from international football. He has only said that he will share his side of the story later. Until he does, his future with Portugal is not certain.
Portugal, on the other hand, has already moved forward, picking up another strong Nations League result without him in the team. Whether this moment becomes a defining moment in Ronaldo’s international career, or simply a temporary disagreement, will depend on his next statement.
For now, Portugal fans are left waiting for him, along with the rest of the football world, in order to see whether one of the top and biggest players has played his last match for his country.
