Ronaldo suspended by Portugal FA after leaving camp and criticising coach

What the report says

Portugal’s football federation has opened disciplinary proceedings against Cristiano Ronaldo after the national team captain left camp during the recent international break, according to Al Jazeera’s report based on Reuters. The move follows a disagreement over selection and a public statement in which Ronaldo said he should be punished for his conduct. He also said he had been unhappy with head coach Jorge Jesus, whom he accused of not keeping his word.

The report says the dispute centered on a Nations League match against Norway, when Ronaldo was told he would start on the bench. He warmed up but did not play. Before Portugal’s next match against Denmark, he informed the federation that he was leaving camp. The Portuguese Football Federation said disciplinary proceedings were launched on October 9, 2026, and that Ronaldo was provisionally suspended.

Ronaldo has since returned to club duty with Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, where he scored in a 3-0 win over Diriyah. He later apologized to teammates for leaving camp, while also saying the matter should be judged without special treatment because of his role as captain. The federation’s rules reportedly allow sanctions ranging from one month to six months for abandoning national team activity.

The case matters because Ronaldo remains one of Portugal’s most important players and its all-time leading scorer. He has played 234 times for the national team and scored 146 goals, and Portugal is due to play Nations League matches against Denmark and Wales next month.