Fernandes defends Ronaldo as Portugal's "greatest symbol" — SkimNews
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- Cristiano Ronaldo withdrew from the Portugal squad after coach Jorge Jesus informed him he would not start against Denmark in the Nations League.
- Portugal beat Denmark 4-2 without Ronaldo in the lineup, having also won at Norway and Denmark away from home with the 41-year-old forward on the bench.
- Bruno Fernandes publicly called Ronaldo the country's "greatest symbol" and urged fans to "stop dividing things," insisting there are "no divisions in the national team."
- Ronaldo is Portugal's all-time leading goalscorer and most capped player, and his international future is in doubt after his walkout.
- Coach Jorge Jesus called Ronaldo a "symbol of Portugal" and said he would address the situation after Sunday's Nations League rematch against Norway in Porto.
- Jesus said he is focusing on the opponent, calling Norway "one of the five best teams in Europe," ahead of Sunday's fixture.
Why it matters: Portugal have won both confirmed Nations League matches without Ronaldo starting, putting pressure on Jesus's selection call — while Fernandes' public defense shows the squad is protecting Ronaldo's legacy rather than writing him off. With the 41-year-old's international future now in doubt, the federation faces a symbolic standoff between a fading superstar and a winning team.
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