Cristiano Ronaldo has been named in Portugal’s preliminary squad for their Nations League matches against Denmark and Wales, after serving a ban and paying a fine for walking out of their last camp.
The 41-year-old fell out with coach Jorge Jesus after being left on the bench for Portugal’s match against Norway in September. He then left the camp, which led to a furore and a 30-day suspension, plus a €255 (£215) fine.
At the heart of the row was a promise of game time that Jesus made to Ronaldo, which wasn’t kept when he stayed an unused substitute against Norway. Portugal won their next two matches without him, beating Denmark 4-2 and Norway 2-1, after he left the camp at the end of September.
Now he’s back in the preliminary squad, according to AFP, though it’s not clear whether he’ll return to the starting line-up. First he has to make the final squad, which is due on November 6.
TNT Sports said if he does, Jesus must then decide whether to use him when Portugal host Denmark on November 14, before travelling to Wales on November 17.
Ronaldo then took to social media to explain why he had walked out, which raised the prospect that the falling out with Jesus could end his involvement in Portugal’s Nations League campaign. He gave two reasons. One was game time. The other was a press conference where Jesus apparently failed to mention points the pair had agreed on.
The Portugal legend later followed up with an apology to his supporters, then accepted a small fine and a backdated suspension. At no point did he suggest the argument would lead to retirement. He reiterated over the summer that the 2026 World Cup was his last, but he said he’d only leave the sport “when I want”.
