Portugal's Ronaldo at the centre of tension: president in Denmark
The captain of the Portuguese national team, Cristiano Ronaldo, was seen leaving the field without greeting the fans after the match against Norway, and then did not attend the subsequent training in Malmö. The president of the Football Federation, Pedro Proença, flew to Denmark to try to clarify the situation, fueling a climate of tension around Portugal.
The context of the Nations League
Ronaldo started in the Nations League debut against Wales, but in the subsequent match against Norway he remained on the bench for the entire game. According to one source, the Portuguese won 2-1 thanks to a goal from substitute Gonçalo Ramos; another source reports a 1-2 result in favor of Norway, creating a discrepancy in the data.
Captain's reaction
At the end of the match, Ronaldo showed frustration by heading straight to the locker room, without stopping to thank the supporters. Coach Jorge Jesus said he had planned to bring Ronaldo on in the final half‑hour, but changed his mind during the game, stating that “a match sometimes requires other things.”
Absence from training
The next day, Ronaldo arrived at the Malmö stadium about thirty minutes before the start of the session, but did not take part in the training. After a brief talk with Jorge Jesus, the captain returned to the hotel for an individual gym session, as the field lacked the necessary equipment.
Pedro Proença, originally scheduled to follow the Under‑21 match against Gibraltar in Ponta Delgada, changed his plans and went to Copenhagen, where he avoided the press interview by entering a reserved area. The president emphasized his intention to prevent the issue from further deteriorating, promising meetings with Ronaldo and the coach.
The case remains in the spotlight, with Portugal's next commitment scheduled for Thursday in Copenhagen. Cristiano Ronaldo's management within the national team continues to raise questions, while President Proença seeks to restore order between the captain and the technical staff.