Cristiano Ronaldo leaves Portugal camp after coach says he would be benched

Ronaldo explains departure publicly

The striker posted a statement on social media confirming his exit from the facility. He stated he would explain the reasons for his decision to the public in due course. Ronaldo noted that he wishes good luck to Portugal and all teammates without exception.

Coach denies any rift

Head coach Jorge Jesus told reporters there was no incident between them before the game. The manager explained that while he initially said Ronaldo would not start, he decided not to bring him on later either. Jesus added that every player knows the coach makes the final decisions regarding lineups.

Recent match performance

Ronaldo did not play in Portugal's 2-1 victory over Norway earlier this week. He has not trained with the group since that match and reportedly left the stadium on Wednesday. The team is scheduled to face Denmark in Copenhagen on Thursday.