Story perspectives

Portugal wins without Ronaldo as federation seeks peace

By Drooid · Oct 5, 2026, 10:48 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Portugal’s football federation said Cristiano Ronaldo left the national team camp on October 1 after being omitted from the Norway match.
Coach Jorge Jesus said he will not apologize and retains the right to bench any player, including Ronaldo.
Portugal won 2–1 over Norway and 4–2 over Denmark without Ronaldo in the lineup.
The federation said it wants to make peace with Ronaldo and give him a dignified farewell.

History

Historical Context

In 1998, the Brazilian Football Confederation dismissed star striker Romário after a disciplinary clash, prompting his retirement from international play. Romário had amassed 55 goals in 70 caps, and Brazil’s 1994 World Cup triumph generated $1.2 billion in revenue globally overall. Today, Portugal’s federation and coach Jorge Jesus similarly bench Cristiano Ronaldo, fielding a squad that beat Norway 2-1 and Denmark 4-2 without him. Such high-profile exclusions pressure governing bodies to balance star power with team cohesion, shaping future selection policies across European football.

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Story summary

Portugal’s football federation said Cristiano Ronaldo left the national team camp on October 1 after being omitted from the Norway match.
Coach Jorge Jesus said he will not apologize and retains the right to bench any player, including Ronaldo.
Portugal won 2–1 over Norway and 4–2 over Denmark without Ronaldo in the lineup.
The federation said it wants to make peace with Ronaldo and give him a dignified farewell.

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