Ronaldo and Jesus resolve Portugal dispute

Cristiano Ronaldo and Jorge Jesus have resolved the dispute that followed Portugal's 2-1 win over Norway, according to A Bola and Observador, cited by Sport-Express and Euro-Futbol.ru.

The row started when Jesus left Ronaldo on the bench for the entire Nations League group match. Portuguese outlets report there had been an understanding that the 41-year-old would come on in the second half, which Jesus did not honour. Ronaldo went straight down the tunnel at full time without acknowledging the crowd.

On 29 September he trained alone in the gym rather than with the squad, reportedly because the equipment at the Malmö stadium did not suit his individual programme. The two men then sat down and talked the issue through. Portugal federation president Pedro Proença travelled to the squad's base as the situation was being smoothed over.

Jesus and Ronaldo have agreed to focus on the games ahead, though the coach has given no guarantee of a starting place. Ronaldo, who has scored four goals in 4 appearances for Portugal since returning to the squad in November 2022, remains the side's top scorer this World Cup qualifying campaign with three goals, ahead of João Félix and Gonçalo Ramos on two each. Portugal sit second in their group on 5 points from three matches.

The squad travel to face Denmark on 1 October, kick-off 21:45 Moscow time. How Jesus uses Ronaldo in that game will be the first real sign of whether the truce holds.