Portugal defender Nuno Mendes, Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus and defender Renato Veiga have called for calm around the Ronaldo situation in Copenhagen and Porto on Thursday and Friday, October 1 and 2, 2026, after 41-year-old captain Cristiano Ronaldo left the national team camp and Portugal subsequently defeated Denmark 4-2 in the UEFA Nations League.
Mendes said the players had no role in deciding Ronaldo’s future with the national team, stressing that the squad’s immediate responsibility was to follow Jesus’ instructions and concentrate on upcoming fixtures.
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“He is a player for the national team, and we are more focused on what we have to do now and on what the coach wants to bring to us,” Mendes said, according to a statement reported by Fabrizio Romano.
“As for the rest, it’s not for us to decide,” the Paris Saint-Germain defender added.
Mendes also made clear that the squad would remain open to Ronaldo or any other player who joins the national team.
“We’re here to welcome any player who joins us,” he said.
The comments came after Ronaldo unexpectedly departed Portugal’s training camp in Copenhagen on September 30, following a conversation with Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proença and a press conference by Jesus.
The Portuguese Football Federation confirmed Ronaldo’s departure but did not publicly provide detailed reasons for his decision.
Ronaldo subsequently said he would explain his reasons at a later time.
The episode followed a period of growing tension between Ronaldo and Jesus.
Ronaldo had been left on the bench during Portugal’s previous match against Norway, despite warming up, while Jesus later indicated that Gonçalo Ramos would start against Denmark.
Jesus has sought to keep the focus on football rather than the dispute.
Before the Denmark fixture, the Portugal manager said the Ronaldo matter was, for the moment, closed.
“The important thing now is to focus on the game,” Jesus said, adding that there would be time to discuss the issue afterwards.
Portugal then responded with a strong performance in Copenhagen, beating Denmark 4-2 on Thursday.
The result gave Jesus a third consecutive Nations League victory since taking charge, while the team continued without its long-serving captain.
The result has added another layer to an already significant transition for Portugal.
Jesus recently took over as head coach following Roberto Martínez’s tenure, while Ronaldo, now 41, remains Portugal’s most-capped men’s player and leading international goalscorer.
Ronaldo’s international future therefore remains unresolved.
The Portuguese federation’s disciplinary regulations also allow for a suspension of up to six months in certain circumstances involving a player leaving the national team without permission, although the federation has not publicly announced such a punishment in this case.
For Renato Veiga, who remains close to Ronaldo, the situation is equally sensitive.
The defender confirmed his personal relationship with the veteran forward but declined to discuss the circumstances surrounding his departure.
“I’m very close to Cristiano Ronaldo, and he knows I have a lot of affection for him,” Veiga said.
Veiga added that he had been instructed not to comment further on the matter.
Portugal’s attention now turns to the Estádio do Dragão in Porto, where Norway are scheduled to visit on October 4.
The fixture will provide another test of Jesus’ developing side as the team continues its Nations League campaign without clarity yet over Ronaldo’s next step with the national team.
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For Mendes and the rest of the squad, the message has remained consistent: the players will concentrate on their football while decisions surrounding Ronaldo are left to the relevant authorities and those directly responsible for the national team.
