Cristiano Ronaldo stays on bench as Portugal win at Norway
Ronaldo played no minutes in the Nations League win over Norway and left for the dressing room; coach Jorge Jesus says he counts on him but must talk to him.
Cristiano Ronaldo did not play a minute in Portugal's away win over Norway in the second round of Nations League fixtures. At the final whistle he went straight to the dressing room and did not join the team's celebration in front of the Portuguese supporters, Corriere dello Sport reports.
It is the first time in 6,678 days that he has sat out an entire official match for Portugal. The last was on 15 June 2008, against Switzerland at Euro 2008. Oslo was only the eighth official game in his 234 caps that he began on the bench. The 41-year-old, who plays for Al-Nassr, last came on as a substitute in September 2024, against Scotland.
Head coach Jorge Jesus spoke about it afterwards and said he needs to talk to his captain.
"I only noticed after the match, and only he can answer that," Jesus said. "It is not because he did not play that he is a player I do not count on. I count on him. In fact, before the match I told him: 'I am not going to start you, but during the game I will bring you on.'"
Ronaldo did not get on, and Jesus's remarks as reported end there.
If the conversation Jesus described takes place before the next squad is named, it may settle whether this was a one-off. Ronaldo's reaction is the part of the story still unaccounted for.
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