Cristiano Ronaldo misses Portugal training as team prepares in Copenhagen for Denmark game

Cristiano Ronaldo missed Portugal training on Tuesday as the squad prepared in Copenhagen for a Nations League match against Denmark on Thursday, after being left on the bench in Portugal’s 2-1 win at Norway on Sunday.

The 41-year-old has not practised with the full Portugal group since the weekend and has been working only in the gym, the Portuguese Football Federation said, prompting speculation about a possible rift with head coach Jorge Jesus. Portuguese media reported that federation president Pedro Proença travelled to meet both Ronaldo and Jesus after suggestions the forward was unhappy at being omitted; the federation confirmed only that Proença was with the squad. Ronaldo posted an Instagram photo on Tuesday of himself in the Portugal tracksuit accompanied by the Portuguese flag and a heart emoji.

Jesus, who took charge of the national team from Roberto Martínez after the World Cup, said before the Norway match he did not want to overuse Ronaldo during an unusually long international break in which Portugal play four games in 11 days. He said he had planned to give Ronaldo minutes against Norway but the circumstances of the match prevented that, and after the victory he said he would "talk to him" in response to reports the forward was upset.

Ronaldo is identified in the squad as the all-time leading scorer in men’s international football and is pursuing the milestone of 1,000 career goals; he has scored 146 international goals for Portugal. He started in Portugal’s 1-0 win over Wales last week and was substituted in the 67th minute.

Portugal top Group A4 of the Nations League with six points from two matches, three points ahead of Denmark and Norway, while Wales are bottom with no points.

Portugal are due to play Denmark in Copenhagen on Thursday and will host Norway on Sunday.