Cristiano Ronaldo is set for talks with Portugal manager Jorge Jesus and Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proenca after being left on the bench for the entire 2-1 win over Norway, ending an 18-year run in which he had appeared in every Portugal matchday squad he was selected for.
The 41-year-old captain was named among the substitutes for Sunday’s Nations League meeting but did not enter the game, despite Portugal making a late change in attack.
According to reports in Portugal, Jesus had initially considered giving Ronaldo around 30 minutes on the pitch. That plan was eventually abandoned as the match developed.
Goncalo Ramos started up front for Portugal and remained on the field until the 81st minute. When Jesus finally made a change, however, he chose Francisco Trincao rather than Ronaldo.
Portugal ultimately held on for the victory, giving Jesus a result that supported his decision on the night. Ronaldo’s reported frustration, however, has now prompted what is expected to be a private discussion involving the player, the manager and the head of the Portuguese FA.
Portuguese newspaper Record reported that Proenca changed his travel plans to take part in the meeting. He had been due to travel to the Azores for an Under-21 match, but Ronaldo’s situation has reportedly altered those arrangements.
The episode comes only a week after Ronaldo publicly reaffirmed his commitment to Portugal and explained why he had decided to continue his international career after the 2022 World Cup.
Ronaldo said he had discussed his future with both the Portuguese FA president and the national team coach and remained convinced that he could still contribute to the team.
“I still believe that I’m able to help the national team to reach what they want, and will finish when I feel like I’m not doing anything here,” he said.
He also pointed to his role beyond simply scoring goals, particularly as Portugal continues to introduce younger players into the national side.
“This is a new young generation,” Ronaldo said. “But for me the basic point is to be able on the pitch to score the goals and to help the team win games.”
His continued involvement with Portugal comes against the backdrop of a career that has already produced records unlikely to be matched easily. Ronaldo has scored 146 international goals and 979 goals across his senior career.
He has also remained productive at club level with Al Nassr, scoring three times in his first five appearances of the current campaign.
That makes his omission against Norway notable not simply because of his status, but because of the timing. Ronaldo had recently made clear that he still believed he could contribute on the pitch, while Jesus made the decision to finish the match without using one of Portugal’s most experienced players.
For now, the 2-1 victory remains the immediate result, but the circumstances surrounding Ronaldo’s unused-substitute appearance have created a new point of discussion for Portugal as the team moves forward under Jesus.
The meeting with the national coach and FA president is expected to provide an opportunity to address the situation directly, with Ronaldo’s role in the team once again under scrutiny.
