October 12 – Cristiano Ronaldo has been provisionally suspended by the Portuguese Football Federation after opening disciplinary proceedings for his petulant exit from the national team field.
The 41-year-old left before Portugal’s Nations League game in Denmark after falling out with manager Jorge Jesús, accusing him of going back on promises about playing time after being benched against Norway.
Ronaldo has since apologized to his teammates and fans, admitted he was wrong to leave and even asked the federation to punish him.
The FPF confirmed on Saturday that the case has passed to its Disciplinary Investigation Commission. “Disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro, following a decision by the Unprofessional Section on October 9, 2026,” it said.
An automatic provisional suspension was followed by another suspension, and the case has been described as “urgent”. Details will be kept confidential until the investigation is complete.
The punishment could be severe. According to the rules of the federation, any player who “leaves or does not appear” without justification in the activity of the national selection “will be sanctioned with a suspension of one to six months”, plus a fine. Ronaldo did inform the federation that he was leaving, but it is unclear whether this will count as justified and whether the coaching staff at the time felt it was best.
Ronaldo says he will accept the result and still wants to play for Portugal. The bigger question is whether he can still play at the level Portugal need. He has 146 international goals, a men’s record, but Jesus left him out in Oslo and Portugal won all three games without him to top their Nations League group.
It also raises the question of how this ends. Argentina bid an emotional farewell to Lionel Messi in Buenos Aires, where he scored against Benin in front of a packed house. Ronaldo has given Portugal more than two decades of service.
On current evidence, a suspension and disciplinary hearing could be the end of his international career, unless the federation and the player find a way to give him the send-off his record deserves.
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