Fernandes Calls Ronaldo Portugal's 'Greatest Symbol' — SkimNews
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- Cristiano Ronaldo left the Portugal squad after coach Jorge Jesus told him he would not start the Nations League match against Denmark, which Portugal won 4-2 without him.
- Bruno Fernandes, speaking at a Portugal news conference Saturday, said Ronaldo "will never cease to be the greatest symbol of our national team" and urged the country not to "divide itself" over the controversy.
- Ronaldo has scored 146 goals in 234 matches for Portugal — both national records — and helped them win Euro 2016 and the Nations League in 2019 and 2025, though his international future now appears in doubt.
- Jorge Jesus, Ronaldo's former club manager at Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr, replaced Roberto Martinez for the Nations League campaign; Martinez had been criticised at this summer's World Cup for rarely substituting Ronaldo even when he played poorly.
- Portugal sit top of Nations League Group A4 with a perfect nine points from three matches and host Norway on Sunday in Porto, with Jesus saying he would address Ronaldo's situation after that game.
Why it matters: Fernandes went public with his defense of Ronaldo as Portugal's "greatest symbol" after the 41-year-old exited the squad on being told he'd be benched. The benching by Jesus — Ronaldo's former Al-Nassr manager — marks a sharp shift from the Martinez era, when Ronaldo was criticised for rarely being subbed even when playing poorly. His international future is now in doubt.
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