Portugal rethinks Cristiano Ronaldo's role under Jorge Jesus

In the stadium locker room, captain Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, left the room without a word after being left on the bench, a rare move that immediately made the football world round and sparked a wave of reactions among fans and the media.

Ronaldo, still a historic goal‑scorer

At 41, Cristiano Ronaldo is playing in Saudi Arabia at a level he deems acceptable, while still holding the record as the top scorer in the history of national teams. He continues his symbolic goal of 1,000 career goals.

For nearly twenty years, he has been an undisputed starter for every Portugal manager, making his presence essential in major tournaments. His name has become synonymous with leadership on the pitch.

Jesus justifies Ronaldo's absence

Jorge Jesus's arrival this summer at the helm of Portugal seemed to extend this continuity, especially as the two men had recently worked together at Al‑Nassr. Starting against Wales in the new manager's first match, Ronaldo faced an unprecedented situation against Norway.

Jorge Jesus explains why Ronaldo stayed on the bench against Norway

Against Norway, he was left on the bench in favor of the duo Gonçalo Ramos – João Félix and did not even come on, which sparked the captain's anger. It was only the third time since 2003 that he spent the full 90 minutes on the bench with the Seleção, the last being at Euro 2008.

In his absence, Ramos and Félix scored the two goals of Portugal's 2‑1 victory. The result confirmed Jesus's tactical decision, but fueled the debate about Ronaldo's role.

Asked after the match, Jorge Jesus said: “I didn’t use him because I felt the game was influencing me in other areas. I made changes to ensure not only the result but also other aspects of the collective play.” This statement contrasts with the usual communication surrounding Ronaldo and revives the question of the end of an era or a simple adjustment.