Cristiano Ronaldo leaves Portugal training camp amid row over his role

Cristiano Ronaldo has left Portugal’s training camp in Copenhagen amid a confrontation over his role in the national team, in what many see as the end of his chapter with the Seleção.

The immediate trigger was the coach’s decision to name him on the bench for the match against Norway. That selection intensified long-standing tensions inside the squad and with the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF), which had quietly prepared for the possibility that Ronaldo might stop playing for the national team after the World Cup.

When Ronaldo departed the camp he sent a message to teammates wishing them luck, a gesture widely interpreted as a final farewell. Although an official announcement has not yet been issued, several of the coaches who applied for the Portugal job after Roberto Martínez’s exit made clear they would only take charge if Ronaldo was no longer part of the squad — and José Mourinho was among those reportedly willing to set that condition.

Portugal’s new coach, Jorge Jesus, had previously been forced to call Ronaldo because the forward never publicly confirmed a retirement. Ronaldo was deeply affected by Portugal’s elimination by Spain at the World Cup in North America and chose to continue with the national team in part to improve career totals that stand at 234 appearances and 146 goals.

Departure and legacy

The way the split unfolded — with strained relations, managerial ultimatums and an exit from camp rather than a celebrated send-off — has drawn criticism for not matching Ronaldo’s significance to Portuguese and world football. Observers note the timing felt late; federation officials and staff had anticipated this moment months earlier.

Comparisons were also made to Lionel Messi, who retired from Argentina’s national team around the same period and received a formal farewell befitting his status. Many believe Ronaldo deserved a similarly fitting goodbye.

Photo: press material from the event