Ronaldo sulking, Portugal extends olive branch before November

Cristiano Ronaldo has not said his final word with the seleção, provided he wants to. After leaving the Portuguese gathering prematurely following his benching in the match against Norway, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner finds himself at the heart of a diplomatic crisis that the federation’s leaders are rushing to defuse.

Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) president Pedro Proença spoke out to ease the tension. Describing the incident as a “misunderstanding that must be resolved internally,” he reaffirmed Ronaldo’s exceptional status within the national squad. “We are talking about the greatest player of all time. Cristiano Ronaldo represents today the greatest symbol of Portuguese identity, we must pay tribute to him,” he declared, before adding: “He is in the national team thanks to his own sporting merits. He will always be part of this group as long as he has the technical capacity.”

From the bench, manager Jorge Jesus adopts a more direct tone, but the underlying message remains the same. “If Ronaldo wishes it, he will return. There is no resentment, it was a misunderstanding. I think it is easy to resolve,” he stated. Jesus specified that Ronaldo would feature on the next squad list for the November international window, while referring the final decision to the player himself: “It is up to him to decide.” The manager nevertheless felt compelled to reassert his authority: “I am the manager, I call up whoever I want. There are things that are non-negotiable.”

On the pitch, Portugal is nonetheless going through a serene phase: four matches, four victories. It is precisely this favorable context that makes managing the Ronaldo affair all the more delicate — no leader wishes to turn a dressing room turbulence into a lasting fracture. The November squad list will constitute the first concrete test of this fragile peace.