Traveling to Norway on Sunday evening for the second day of the Nations League, Portugal won against Erling Haaland’s teammates (1-2). A match during which Jorge Jesus chose to do without the services of Cristiano Ronaldo. Substitute at kick-off, the Al-Nassr player did not come into play. A first since 2008. A chapter has just closed.
If the end of his story with the Seleçao does not yet seem to be imminent, it is still a big step that was taken in Oslo. By his own admission, Jorge Jesus had assured the five-time Ballon d’Or winner that he would offer him playing time, but the circumstances of the game – and the Lusitanian coach – decided otherwise.
Cristiano Ronaldo obviously took it very badly, he who chose to show his anger by returning directly to the locker room after the final whistle, while his teammates gathered in midfield to celebrate the victory. The fact that “CR7” remained on the bench the entire match is therefore an event. The last time this happened was during a non-challenging Euro 2008 match against Switzerland, in the third match of the group stage.
Cristiano Ronaldo is no longer immovable
And if we go back to 2003, it is only the third time that the Portuguese has been treated in this way. Between 2008 and 2026, Cristiano Ronaldo had also always started the important matches played by his selection, as a starter. Only two exceptions to this rule: against Switzerland and Morocco, respectively in the 8th and quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup. Two matches during which he still came into play.
What Fernando Santos had started before Roberto Martinez came back, is therefore restarted by Jorge Jesus: Cristiano Ronaldo is no longer an irremovable captain of the Seleçao. And that’s quite a change. If it is confirmed.
