Ronaldo mocks Simon Jordan's appearance in leaked text as Portugal walkout row escalates

Cristiano Ronaldo has taken aim at talkSPORT pundit Simon Jordan in a personal text message, calling him an “apple” and telling him to “stop with the botox” — comments that were read out live on Piers Morgan’s show as the fallout from Ronaldo’s Portugal walkout continued to dominate headlines.

Morgan revealed the exchange after sending Ronaldo a clip of his earlier talkSPORT debate with Jordan and Jim White. “I sent Cristiano the clip of me with Simon Jordan this morning and he texted back, ‘that blonde guy, tell him to stop with the botox, he looks like an apple’,” Morgan told viewers. The TV presenter, who has been a vocal defender of the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, relayed the message with evident amusement.

The backdrop to the row is Ronaldo’s abrupt departure from Portugal’s international camp under new manager Jorge Jesus. The 41-year-old was left on the bench as an unused substitute during Portugal’s match against Norway in Oslo, and walked out on the squad on the eve of their subsequent fixture against Denmark. In a statement, it was claimed Jesus had promised Ronaldo 30 minutes of action against Norway before going back on his word.

Ronaldo has since issued an apology and asked the Portuguese Football Federation to punish him rather than extend any leniency — an unusual public gesture that has done little to quiet the debate around his conduct.

The incident has split opinion sharply. Rio Ferdinand and Morgan have defended Ronaldo, while Jordan took a harder line during the on-air exchange that preceded the leaked text. “Is there not a common denominator of fallouts that might be some of Ronaldo’s behaviour?” Jordan pressed Morgan. “You can’t see beyond the end of your nose that there might be a common denominator when problems occur.” Morgan repeatedly interrupted with denials before Jordan concluded: “Well, you’re a bloody fool then, aren’t you?”

The episode arrives as questions about Ronaldo’s international future grow louder, particularly in the wake of Lionel Messi’s emotional retirement from Argentina duty — a contrast that has sharpened scrutiny of how Ronaldo’s own international career may eventually conclude.