Cristiano Ronaldo misses Portugal training amid reports of rift with coach Jesus

By the Editorial Team · Thursday, October 1, 2026

Cristiano Ronaldo has skipped Portugal’s team training ahead of their Nations League match against Denmark, reportedly due to frustration over limited playing time under coach Jorge Jesus. The Portuguese Football Federation is actively addressing the situation, with president Pedro Proença meeting both parties as Portugal seeks to maintain squad harmony while leading their group.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s absence from Portugal’s training sessions ahead of their Nations League match against Denmark has fueled speculation of a disagreement between the 41-year-old forward and head coach Jorge Jesus. Ronaldo, the all-time leading scorer in men’s international football with 146 goals, missed training after being left on the bench during Portugal’s 2-1 victory over Norway on Sunday.

The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) confirmed that Ronaldo has not participated in team training since the Norway game, instead engaging solely in individual gym work. Reports from Portuguese media indicate that federation president Pedro Proença traveled to meet both Ronaldo and Jesus amid rumors that the forward was displeased about not playing against Norway. The FPF acknowledged Proença’s presence with the squad but did not elaborate on the nature of any discussions.

Jesus, who took charge of Portugal’s national team following Roberto Martínez’s tenure after the World Cup, had stated prior to the Norway fixture that he intended to manage Ronaldo’s playing time carefully. The coach cited the unusually long international break, during which Portugal is scheduled to play four matches in eleven days, as the reason for limiting minutes to avoid overuse. Jesus had planned to include Ronaldo against Norway but said match circumstances ultimately prevented him from entering the game.

Following the victory over Norway, Jesus said he intended to speak with Ronaldo regarding the situation, addressing reports of tension between coach and player. Earlier in the week, Ronaldo appeared on Instagram in a photo wearing the Portugal tracksuit, accompanied by the national flag and a heart emoji, signaling his ongoing commitment to the team.

Ronaldo had started and was substituted in the 67th minute during Portugal’s 1-0 win over Wales last week. Currently, Portugal leads Group A4 of the Nations League with six points from two games, three points ahead of Denmark and Norway, with Wales yet to earn any points. Portugal is set to host Norway in their next fixture on Sunday.

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