Ronaldo accused of selfishness after dramatic exit from Portugal squad

Cristiano Ronaldo left Portugal’s training camp on the eve of their second match against Denmark, refusing to train after what he perceived as a lack of respect from manager Jorge Jesus. The Portuguese federation responded by suspending him, triggering a crisis whose repercussions continue to reverberate.

Consultant Laure Boulleau delivered a scathing analysis of the episode. She first highlighted a telling silence in the dressing room: “His lengthy statement was not welcomed by any player in the squad. It seems the players don’t want to speak out too much and they may also feel liberated by his departure.”

Boulleau also pointed to the speed with which Rafael Leao claimed the number 7 shirt in the next match, seeing it as an additional signal. “The players are a bit caught between two stools and don’t quite know how to express themselves. But collectively, they felt much better when he left, because they played good matches,” she added.

On the substance, the consultant does not spare the five-time Ballon d’Or winner: “His behaviour, even if he’s a mega star, still, you have to try to think about those who are playing. He doesn’t give a damn.” She concludes by implicitly comparing his trajectory to Lionel Messi’s: “We have a player who has relied heavily on his athletic qualities, and I think with Messi, they don’t have the same old age and the same retirement.”

Ronaldo’s departure and the subsequent suspension raise broader questions about his future with the Portuguese squad, less than two years before the 2026 World Cup.