Cristiano Ronaldo absent from Portugal squad for Denmark match in UEFA Nations League
Cristiano Ronaldo is not part of Portugal’s UEFA Nations League 2026-27 group match against Denmark in Copenhagen on October 1, 2026. The 41-year-old left the national team training camp after a dispute over how his situation with the squad was handled.
Portugal travelled to Copenhagen for their third group-stage outing of the UEFA Nations League 2026-27 and will play at the Parken Stadium. Under new head coach Jorge Jesus, Portugal began the campaign with a 1-0 win over Wales and followed that with a 2-1 victory against Norway, leaving them on a two-match winning run.
Ronaldo featured for around 70 minutes in the match against Wales but did not play in the Norway game, where he was left on the bench. Ahead of the Norway fixture, Jorge Jesus promised the Portuguese talisman a specific amount of playing time and then refused to bring him in.
Ronaldo exited the Portugal training camp in Copenhagen after his situation with the national team was, in the article’s words, handled disrespectfully. He set out his reasons for leaving in a social media post: “After the national team coach’s press conference, and after a conversation with the president of the Portuguese Football Federation, I decided to step out of the national team camp. With time, I will tell the Portuguese people what the reasons were for me being out of the national team, to whom I have always dedicated myself. Now is the time to wish Portugal and all my teammates the best, without any exception,” mentioned Ronaldo on social media.
There have been no further updates about his status with Selecao das Quinas, and, according to some reports cited in the article, Cristiano Ronaldo has decided to retire from the Portugal national football team.
Portugal’s meeting with Denmark at Parken Stadium remains their third group-stage fixture in the UEFA Nations League 2026-27 and will take place without Cristiano Ronaldo in the squad; no additional official updates on his situation have been provided.
