Cristiano Ronaldo leaves Portugal camp in Copenhagen after coach says he will not start

Cristiano Ronaldo has left Portugal's national team training camp in Denmark. The Portugal captain announced his departure on Instagram on Wednesday, 30 September 2026.

He wrote that he made the decision after the coach's press conference and a conversation with the president of the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF). "In due course, I will tell the truth to all the Portuguese people about my reasons for leaving the national team, to which I have always been dedicated," he wrote, as quoted by The Guardian.

Earlier on Wednesday, coach Jorge Jesus said Ronaldo would not start Thursday's Nations League match against Denmark. He said Gonçalo Ramos would start if things went to plan. The FPF confirmed that Ronaldo did not take part in Wednesday's training session. According to the BBC, the FPF later confirmed his departure and said preparation would continue "with the 24 remaining squad members."

FPF president Pedro Proença was in Denmark and met Jesus and Ronaldo. Portuguese media shared a video that appeared to show Ronaldo leaving Parken Stadium in Copenhagen.

Ronaldo, 41, did not play in Portugal's 2-1 win over Norway in Oslo on Sunday, 27 September. Ramos scored the winning goal. After that match, Ronaldo went straight to the changing rooms and did not join teammates in acknowledging Portuguese supporters. He had started Portugal's opening match of this international break, against Wales. He is Portugal's record goalscorer with 146 goals and most-capped player with 234 appearances.

According to Reuters, as cited by France 24, Ronaldo's private jet left Madrid for Copenhagen on Wednesday evening. The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not confirm that he boarded it. According to ESPN, Portugal lead Nations League Group A4 with six points from two matches.

What is disputed

Accounts differ on what Jesus told Ronaldo before the Norway match. France 24, The Guardian and the BBC report that Jesus said he told Ronaldo he would not start but might come on later. According to ESPN, Jesus acknowledged telling Ronaldo he would likely play, then changed his mind. France 24's headline says Ronaldo was "dropped" for the Denmark match, while other reports quote Jesus as saying he could still come on if needed.

What each side says

Jesus said there was no rift. "There was no incident whatsoever," he said, according to the BBC. He said Ronaldo had not refused to train. "If I need him, he'll come on. If I don't need him, he won't," he said, as quoted by The Guardian. According to ESPN, he said: "No player will ever make a decision for me."

Ronaldo wished his teammates good luck. The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not describe his reasons for leaving or the content of his conversation with Proença.

Analysis

The episode leaves several open questions. Ronaldo has not yet explained his reasons, and the reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not describe the FPF's account of his meeting with Proença. ESPN said it was not immediately clear whether the departure extends beyond this international break. One possible scenario is a return after further talks. Another is a longer break from the national team, given his reported comments about nearing the end of his career. Much may depend on his promised explanation and any further FPF statement. Sporting results in the coming matches could also shape how the situation is viewed.

Traceability
Sources (7): France 24 · Al Jazeera · Anadolu Agency · BBC Sport · The Guardian (Sport) · France 24 (Sport) · ESPN
Independent origins: 4 · Perspectives covered: middle-east, state-turkey, west-commercial, west-left, west-public
Confirmed: 15 · Reported: 15 · Disputed: 2 · Confidence: high
Review: 3 AI reviewers (Claude, GPT-5.6 Sol, Kimi) · 34/34 claims backed by 2+ reviewers with verified evidence · 0 errors · approved
Drafted: 2026-09-30 22:02 UTC

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.