Jorge Jesus has enjoyed a strong start as Portugal head coach, overseeing wins against Wales and Norway in the UEFA Nations League. Ahead of Thursday's trip to Denmark, however, the build-up has centered on a 'crisis' meeting with captain Cristiano Ronaldo. The 41-year-old striker, a regular in Portugal's starting line-up since 2003, did not play a minute of Sunday's win over Norway and did not train with his teammates on Monday or Tuesday.
The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) has not reported any injury or physical issue with the player. Ronaldo's future in Portugal's international team has increasingly become a key talking point in recent years. An automatic starter for two decades, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner was dropped from the starting line-up by then-head coach Fernando Santos for Portugal's 2022 World Cup knockout matches against Switzerland and Morocco.
Roberto Martinez, Santos's successor, reinstated Ronaldo and selected him from the start for all 10 of Portugal's matches across the 2024 European Championship and this summer's World Cup finals. While Ronaldo's long-term rival Lionel Messi, 39, will make his final Argentina appearance next week against Benin, there is no sign that the Al Nassr forward has plans to call time on his Portugal career. Last month, he said he would "probably" retire at the end of the club season next June but before this international break he insisted he could still help the national side.
Ad Content: Sky Sports customers can get a complimentary 12-month subscription to The Athletic, the chance to win sports tickets and much more through Sky Sports Rewards. T&Cs and eligibility details apply. You have to think," Ronaldo said when asked if he had considered retiring after this year's World Cup.
"This is why you see me here now. It means I will continue. "I had a conversation with the (FPF) president, with our coach.
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." Ronaldo had seven shots without scoring in Portugal's 1-0 victory over Wales before being substituted off in the 65th minute for Goncalo Ramos. "I thought it was important to have fresh legs," Jesus said after the game. "Someone who could press the Wales center-backs and stop them playing out, someone with more speed in the first line of defence." For the win over Norway three days later, Ronaldo was an unused substitute.
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