Portuguese fans demand Ronaldo's exclusion from starting lineup

Public sentiment in Portugal has shifted sharply against captain Cristiano Ronaldo, with a new poll indicating that fans no longer view him as deserving of a place in the national team’s starting eleven. This development follows his absence from the pitch during Portugal’s 2-1 victory over Norway in the UEFA Nations League last Sunday.

Ronaldo skipped training and left stadium early

After the final whistle against Norway, Ronaldo walked directly into the tunnel leading to the dressing rooms without acknowledging the spectators. He also missed Tuesday’s team session ahead of Thursday’s match against Denmark. Reports suggest the forward opted to use a better-equipped gym at his hotel rather than utilizing the training facilities in Malmo.

The friction between the player and coach Jorge Jesus escalated prior to the Denmark fixture. Pedro Proença, president of the Portuguese Football Federation, traveled to Copenhagen for an emergency meeting with both Ronaldo and Jesus in an attempt to resolve the crisis. The dispute originated from Ronaldo’s decision to leave the stadium without greeting fans after being named a substitute against Norway.

Poll favors Ramos and Felix over Ronaldo

A survey conducted by the Portuguese sports magazine "A Bola" and published on Wednesday revealed that supporters prefer Gonçalo Ramos and João Félix to remain in the attacking line for the upcoming match against Denmark. The data reflects growing dissatisfaction among the fanbase regarding Ronaldo’s recent conduct and status within the squad.

Media outlets reported that Ronaldo, aged 41, had initially agreed with manager Jorge Jesus not to play against Norway. Jesus, who won the Saudi league title with Al Nassr, Ronaldo’s club, reportedly asked the captain to feature in the final 30 minutes but subsequently changed his mind. Portuguese media cited this reversal as the explanation for Ronaldo’s subsequent actions.

Speculation mounts on international retirement

Commentators are increasingly speculating that Ronaldo’s international career is nearing its end. His decision to continue playing for the national side surprised many analysts following Portugal’s elimination from the World Cup round of 16 in July. In an interview with "Vogue" magazine last August, Ronaldo stated, "Perhaps this is my last year in football," while pursuing his goal of reaching 1,000 career goals.