Portugal secured its place in the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals with a 2-1 victory over Norway on Sunday, extending its perfect record to four wins in Group A4. The triumph came amid lingering uncertainty over Cristiano Ronaldo’s future with the national team after the 41-year-old forward abruptly left the squad last week following a dispute with coach Jorge Jesus.
Jesus and Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proença have since downplayed the incident as a “misunderstanding” and reiterated that Ronaldo remains welcome. “If he wants, he will return to the national team,” Jesus told reporters after the Norway match, adding that Ronaldo’s eligibility depends on his continued play for Al-Nassr and his own decision . Proença echoed this stance, telling RTP that Ronaldo’s place is assured by his sporting merits and that the issue should be resolved internally .
Ronaldo left the team’s training camp on Sept. 27 after being an unused substitute in a Nations League win over Norway in Oslo, a decision that reportedly frustrated the captain. He later posted on social media that he would explain his reasons “at the appropriate time” but has since remained silent. Jesus, however, described the episode as a misunderstanding and said he had previously told Ronaldo he was needed “whether he plays or not” .
Portugal’s next international window is in mid-November, when the squad list will reveal whether Ronaldo accepts the open invitation. In his absence, Gonçalo Ramos has emerged as a key contributor, scoring three goals in the current Nations League campaign .
