Cristiano Ronaldo Provisionally Suspended by Portugal After Leaving National Team

The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) has provisionally suspended Cristiano Ronaldo after he walked out on the national team amid a dispute with manager Jorge Jesus. This action came following disciplinary proceedings initiated by the FPF's Non-Professional Section on October 9, 2026.

The case was treated as urgent, and Ronaldo, who is 41 years old, remains suspended until a final decision on his punishment is reached.

Background of the Dispute

The conflict began when Ronaldo accused Jorge Jesus of breaking promises about his playing time during Portugal’s UEFA Nations League match against Norway. According to Ronaldo, there was an agreement that he would skip the matches against Norway and Denmark to manage his fitness. Yet, on the day of the Norway game, Jesus reportedly told him he would play for 30 minutes.

Despite warming up in the second half of the match, Ronaldo was never substituted onto the field. Jesus later explained that because Portugal was leading 2-1, he decided against bringing Ronaldo on. Ronaldo was unhappy with this change and held a meeting with Jesus, claiming that what was agreed upon was not reflected in the manager's subsequent press conference.

Ronaldo’s Response and Apology

After leaving the team camp, Ronaldo apologized to his teammates and stated he would accept any sanctions imposed by the FPF. He made clear he is not retiring from international duty and hopes for farewell matches with Portugal.

The Portuguese Football Federation must assess the consequences of my actions and punish me for them, Ronaldo said on social media. I believe the penalty should not be reduced. I am not just an ordinary player; I am the captain of the team, and that is an aggravating factor. I have already apologized, but I know that actions have consequences. Anyone in the world of football, like me, knows that the rules are the same for everyone, regardless of individual standing.

Upcoming Fixtures and Ronaldo’s Current Form

Portugal will next compete on November 14 and 17, facing Denmark and Wales in the UEFA Nations League group stage.

Meanwhile, Ronaldo returned to club action on Friday, scoring the 980th goal of his career in Al-Nassr's 3-0 victory over Diriyah in the Saudi Pro League.