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Cristiano Ronaldo warms up before Portugal’s match against Croatia in the Round of 16 of the World Cup in Toronto, Canada, on July 2, 2026. Photo by AP |
Ronaldo left the Portugal national team’s training camp on Sept. 30 after head coach Jorge Jesus told reporters that the 41-year-old striker would be dropped for the next match.
Earlier, Jesus said that there had been no rift between him and Ronaldo, although the 72-year-old coach acknowledged the superstar striker had been disappointed to remain on the bench in the Nations League win over Norway, according to AFP.
Jesus reportedly told Ronaldo before the game that he would get to play 30 minutes but did not keep his word.
According to Forbesapproximately 30% to 35% of the Portuguese Football Federation’s (FPF) total revenue is directly or indirectly tied to Ronaldo’s commercial appeal. This figure comes from sponsorship deals, merchandise sales and the national team’s overall attraction to international audiences.
Should the veteran striker officially end his international career, the Portuguese newspaper Record projects, the impact on the FPF’s long-term commercial revenue could plummet by as much as 50%, which shows that Ronaldo’s influence extends far beyond his contributions on the pitch.
Manuel Castro Almeida, Portugal’s Minister of Economy, recently highlighted Ronaldo’s impact, calling him “the biggest company that boosts Portugal’s reputation globally.”
“Cristiano Ronaldo has an enormous impact in promoting and highlighting Portugal’s image,” he said, as quoted by Goal. “Many people know of Portugal only because of Ronaldo. From the angle of enhancing Portugal’s image and reputation, Cristiano holds extremely important value, and it would be very good for Portugal to continue to benefit from this potential.”
Besides the financial concerns, the FPF is facing immense pressure from domestic and international fans. A part of the fanbase views Ronaldo’s potential departure amidst the current UEFA Nations League campaign as treatment unworthy of a player who has contributed the most to Portuguese football history, sparking backlash on social media and across the country.
A reconciliation between Ronaldo, the FPF, and head coach Jorge Jesus is viewed as essential for bringing the saga to a positive conclusion. The strained relationship between Ronaldo and Jesus makes the prospect of the superstar striker returning to the national team highly uncertain, though organizing a farewell match is another expected outcome.
Ronaldo has undeniably been the central figure in Portuguese football’s major successes over the past two decades, guiding the national team to victory at Euro 2016 and securing two Nations League titles.
He remains eligible to play in the remainder of the 2026/27 Nations League, especially with Portugal having already reached the quarterfinals. However, unless things can be mended with coach Jesus, Ronaldo’s next appearance in a Portugal jersey might be a farewell game.
Given his contributions and influence, a formal send-off would not only serve as a fitting tribute to a legendary career. It could also provide the FPF with an opportunity to navigate some of the commercial and reputational fallout.