Cristiano Ronaldo has been provisionally suspended by the Portuguese Football Federation after leaving the national team camp during the recent Nations League matches. The suspension follows a miscommunication with head coach Jorge Jesus regarding Ronaldo's playing time. Ronaldo was informed he would be a substitute in a match against Norway but did not play. After this, he left the camp prior to the match against Denmark, notifying the federation of his departure.
The Portuguese Football Federation announced on October 9, 2026, that disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against Ronaldo. In a letter, Ronaldo acknowledged that his decision to leave was not the best way to handle the situation but claimed that Jesus had broken his word on multiple occasions. He expressed regret for leaving the training camp and stated, "I owe my national team teammates an apology for leaving the training camp. Despite the absolute breach of trust in the coach’s word, I should not have done it. The responsibility is exclusively mine."
Ronaldo, who has played 234 matches for Portugal and scored 146 goals, indicated he is open to facing disciplinary action, which could range from one to six months of suspension according to federation regulations. He emphasized that he is the team captain, which he believes should be considered an aggravating factor in assessing his punishment. Ronaldo has since returned to his club team, Al Nassr, where he scored in a recent victory. Portugal's upcoming Nations League matches are scheduled against Denmark and Wales next month.