Cristiano Ronaldo Leaves Portugal Camp After Norway Nations League Snub

Cristiano Ronaldo has left Portugal’s training camp after being unused in Sunday’s 2-1 UEFA Nations League victory over Norway, placing the 41-year-old’s international future in immediate doubt.

Ronaldo said he will explain the reasons for his departure to the Portuguese public “at the right time.” He had spoken with the president of the Portuguese Football Federation before leaving and wished every member of the squad luck for Thursday’s Nations League meeting with Denmark.

Quick facts

• Ronaldo walked out of the Portugal camp on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026.
• He did not play in Portugal’s 2-1 win against Norway on Sunday.
• Coach Jorge Jesus said there was no wider problem, while accepting he had not handled Ronaldo’s role perfectly.
• Portugal’s record scorer has struck 146 goals in men’s internationals.
• His next possible Portugal involvement remains unclear ahead of Denmark on Thursday.

Jesus had initially played down concerns, but conceded errors over the way Ronaldo’s non-selection was managed. The coach, who previously worked with Ronaldo at Al Nassr, now faces a major issue before Portugal’s next match.

Ronaldo’s exit could yet prove temporary. But it raises the prospect that a 23-year Portugal career, featuring Euro 2016 glory and a men’s international scoring record, may end amid another dispute over his place in the side.

The debate over Ronaldo’s influence has followed Portugal through the 2022, 2024 and 2026 major tournaments. Roberto Martínez continued to place faith in him at two tournaments despite mounting scrutiny, while Ronaldo kept scoring heavily and won two trophies during a comparatively quiet four-year spell at Al Nassr.

A long record of public flashpoints

Ronaldo’s biggest confrontations have regularly come when his role, transfer plans or tactical treatment have been challenged.

In July 2008, he backed then-FIFA president Sepp Blatter’s controversial comparison between preventing a player from leaving and “modern slavery.” Ronaldo wanted Manchester United to release him for Real Madrid, saying he knew what he wanted but could not say where he would begin the following season. United refused, and he remained for another year before joining Madrid.

That December, during a 1-0 home win over Sunderland, Ronaldo left the field midway through the game and went directly down the tunnel. United were briefly reduced to 10 players while staff arranged a substitute. Sir Alex Ferguson said a blow to Ronaldo’s hip meant he needed treatment immediately and did not need to return to the bench.

Ronaldo reacted angrily again in the May 2009 Manchester derby. He had opened a 2-0 win over City with an 18th-minute free kick, but repeatedly shook his head after Ferguson took him off for Paul Scholes around the hour mark. It was Ronaldo’s final United goal until his return 12 years later.

At Real Madrid in September 2012, Ronaldo scored twice in a 3-0 league win over Granada but did not celebrate either goal. He said he was unhappy because of a professional matter known by the club, without giving further details. Ronaldo later rejected suggestions that money was the issue, although he signed a lucrative new deal a year later.

His relationship with José Mourinho also deteriorated during Mourinho’s final Madrid season. A dressing-room dispute after a January Copa del Rey match against Valencia preceded a difficult finish to 2012-13, and Mourinho dropped Ronaldo for several of the last fixtures. After leaving Madrid, Mourinho said Ronaldo believed he knew everything.

Rafa Benítez’s brief spell in charge brought another awkward episode in December 2015. Ronaldo publicly praised former coach Carlo Ancelotti as an exceptional manager and said he wanted to work with him again, describing him as a “big bear,” amid claims he disliked Benítez’s methods. Benítez said the pair were still getting used to one another, but he was dismissed the following month.

Second Manchester United spell

Ronaldo’s Juventus exit began with him on the bench for the opening Serie A game of 2021-22, a 2-2 draw at Udinese. He had reportedly asked not to start, although Juventus maintained he would stay and Ronaldo had called reports linking him to Real Madrid disrespectful. Just over a week later, on transfer deadline day, he returned to Manchester United after being strongly linked with Manchester City.

In January 2022, interim United manager Ralf Rangnick substituted Ronaldo at Brentford while protecting a 2-0 lead. Harry Maguire came on and United switched to a back three, prompting Ronaldo to throw his coat down as he left the pitch. Rangnick called the response normal, saying Ronaldo might make the same decision if he became a head coach; United went on to win 3-1.

The following month, Rangnick dismissed reports of a captaincy feud involving Ronaldo and Maguire as complete nonsense. Reports had suggested Maguire felt Ronaldo’s influence over younger players threatened his position. Rangnick said no player had discussed changing captain and confirmed Maguire would remain skipper to the end of the campaign.

The relationship finally broke down in October 2022 when Ronaldo refused to enter as a substitute against Tottenham, left the stadium before full time and walked down the tunnel. He had also departed early from a pre-season game against Rayo Vallecano.

His subsequent interview with Piers Morgan sealed his second United departure. Ronaldo said he did not respect Erik ten Hag, felt let down by senior club figures, questioned Rangnick’s appointment and said there had been no progress since his first spell. United then ended his contract by mutual consent.

Portugal tensions before the latest exit

Ronaldo was dropped by Fernando Santos for Portugal’s 2022 World Cup last-16 match against Switzerland. Replacement Gonçalo Ramos scored a hat trick in a 6-1 victory, while Santos said the selection was tactical rather than punishment for Ronaldo’s reaction to being substituted in the final group match.

Santos had admitted he did not like that reaction. Before the quarterfinal against Morocco, the Portuguese federation denied reports that Ronaldo had threatened to leave the camp at any point.

His family publicly defended him after the Switzerland omission. Partner Georgina Rodríguez said it was a shame supporters had not seen the world’s best player for 90 minutes, while sister Elma Aveiro said a player who had given so much was being humiliated.

Now, after another bench role and another camp departure, Ronaldo has promised his own explanation. Portugal and Jesus must prepare for Denmark without clarity over whether their captain will return—or whether his international career is over.