A meeting has been convened between Portugal's football federation president, Pedro Proença, and the country's star player, Cristiano Ronaldo, along with coach Jorge Jesus, in Malmö, Sweden. The unexpected gathering comes as tensions rise within the team ahead of their Nations League match against Denmark on October 1. Proença had initially planned to attend an under-21 match in the Azores but changed his schedule to join Ronaldo and Jesus in Sweden.
The meeting aims to address a reported rift between Ronaldo and Jesus, which arose after Ronaldo was not given playing time in a recent match against Norway. According to Portuguese media, Jesus had promised Ronaldo around 30 minutes of playtime but failed to deliver. Jesus attributed the decision to a tactical choice and claimed he was unaware of Ronaldo's frustration. The incident has sparked concerns about team dynamics under the new coach.
Ronaldo's absence from training on Tuesday further fueled speculation about the player's discontent. He arrived at the training session, exchanged words with Jesus, and then left without participating in the session. Instead, he engaged in a gym workout at his hotel. The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) cited a lack of necessary equipment for individual preparation at the Swedish training facility.
Notable teammates João Félix and Francisco Conceição also missed the training session. Jesus downplayed the significance of Ronaldo's absence, stating that he speaks with the player daily. The incident has raised questions about Jesus' ability to manage the team's star player, who has been a key figure in Portuguese football for years.
Jesus took over as Portugal's coach after Roberto Martínez's departure following the team's elimination from the 2026 World Cup. Ronaldo played a role in Jesus' appointment, having won the Saudi Arabian league title with Al Nassr. Last week, Ronaldo expressed his commitment to helping the team, regardless of his playing time.
Portugal has experienced similar situations in the past. At the 2022 World Cup, coach Fernando Santos left Ronaldo on the bench against Switzerland, leading to Santos' eventual departure after the team's elimination. Jesus faces a challenge in resolving the current situation ahead of the Denmark match.
The outcome of the meeting between Proença, Ronaldo, and Jesus remains to be seen. Portugal will face Denmark on October 1 at 19:45, with the team also competing against Wales and Norway in their Nations League group. The situation will be closely watched by fans and pundits alike.
Key points
- Portugal's football federation president meets with Cristiano Ronaldo and coach Jorge Jesus amid tensions
- Ronaldo was not given playing time in a recent match against Norway, leading to reported frustration
- The meeting aims to address the rift and resolve issues ahead of the Nations League match against Denmark
