Why did Ronaldo leave Portugal’s training camp, and will he play again?

What the report says

Cristiano Ronaldo left Portugal’s training camp in Copenhagen on Wednesday, a day before the team’s Nations League match against Denmark, after a disagreement involving coach Jorge Jesus. According to Al Jazeera, the Portugal captain was at Parken stadium with the squad but departed after Jesus told reporters he would not start the match and would not be used from the beginning against Denmark. The Portuguese Football Federation later confirmed Ronaldo had left, while saying Portugal would continue preparations with the rest of the squad.

Ronaldo responded on Instagram, saying he had made the decision after the coach’s news conference and after speaking with the federation president. He said he would explain his reasons later and wished Portugal and his teammates well. Jesus, for his part, said there had been no serious incident, describing Ronaldo’s reaction as understandable for any player disappointed at being left out, and adding that the forward had been doing individual work rather than refusing to train.

The episode has raised fresh questions about whether the 41-year-old striker has played his last game for Portugal. Al Jazeera noted that Ronaldo said in August he expected this to be his final year in football, though he has not announced retirement from the national team. The report also places the dispute in context by noting that Ronaldo has never before left a Portugal camp in his long international career.