Portugal Nations League Squad News: Seleção search for third straight win in wake of Ronaldo exit

Jorge Jesus has made an impressive start to life as Portugal head coach – but Cristiano Ronaldo’s shock departure could derail the Seleção’s progress.

The country’s all-time top goalscorer left the national team camp on Wednesday, just a day before their Nations League clash against Denmark in Copenhagen.

Reports of a rift with Jesus risk overshadowing that match-up at Parken, as the Iberian outfit go in search of a third straight victory under his leadership.

Ahead of tonight’s Group 4 encounter, we assess the impact of Ronaldo’s exit and consider how Portugal should set up without their talisman in the side.

Surprise departure

Ronaldo’s decision to leave the Portugal camp is shrouded in a degree of mystery.

The 41-year-old forward released a statement on Wednesday evening, saying:

“After the press conference of the national team, and following a conversation with the President of then Portuguese Football Federation (FPF), I have decided to leave the national team training camp.

“In time, I will tell all the Portuguese people the truth about the reasons that motivated me to leave the national team, to which I always devoted myself.

“Now is the time to wish Portugal and all my teammates good luck, without exception.”

And the FPF weren’t any more forthcoming, with their own statement adding:

“The Portuguese Football Federation reports that Portuguese international Cristiano Ronaldo has left the national team’s training camp in Copenhagen.

“Preparation for the matches against Denmark and Norway, the latter to be played at the Estádio do Dragão, will continue as planned, with the remaining 24 players called up.

“The entire delegation remains completely focused on the National Team’s upcoming commitments and on achieving the defined objectives.”

However, there have been suggestions that Ronaldo was displeased by Jesus’ decision not to bring him on in Sunday’s 2-1 victory over Norway in Oslo – just the third time he has been an unused substitute for Portugal since his debut in 2003.

It would not be unreasonable to infer that the two things are linked, though we await more details regarding the exact reasons behind the 234-cap international’s departure.

Declining powers

Ronaldo’s involvement with the national team has been a fiercely debated topic for some time.

On the one hand, there can be no doubting his remarkable impact for the Seleção across a 13-year spell that has delivered 146 goals, a European Championship and two Nations League triumphs.

But the legendary attacker’s ability has been on the wane for some time now, prompting suggestions that Portugal would be better off without him in the side.

Former boss Fernando Santos relegated Ronaldo to the bench for a pair of knockout matches at the 2002 World Cup, prior to two disappointing tournaments in 2024 and 2026 as a starter during Roberto Martínez’s reign.

The latter of those tournaments – the 2026 World Cup – shone a particularly bright spotlight on his ineffectiveness, in a team packed full of stars that should arguably have progressed further than the round of 16.

It is worth noting that Ronaldo has still scored consistently in recent years, though, with 18 goals in 29 competitive and friendly appearances since 2024.

New manager Jesus may not be as convinced as his predecessor, however.

Though the five-time Ballon d'Or winner started in a 1-0 home win versus Wales last Thursday, he didn’t make it onto the pitch against superior opposition in Norway.

Portugal’s 2-1 away win in that encounter may strengthen Jesus’ belief that his charges will be absolutely fine without Ronaldo leading the line.

Alternative options

Portugal’s squad will need to block out the noise from Ronaldo’s departure, as they look to maintain a perfect start to the 2026/27 Nations League.

Next up for the Seleção is this evening’s match against a Denmark team that have three points on the board from two games – bouncing back from a 2-1 loss against Norway to beat Wales 2-0 on home soil.

The current international break then concludes with a rematch against Norway at Porto’s Estádio do Dragão on Sunday.

Jesus may draw inspiration from Portugal’s previous meeting with Ståle Solbakken’s side, when assessing how to set up his team without Ronaldo.

The veteran tactician utilised a 4-4-2 formation with a box midfield at the Ullevaal Stadion – playing João Félix and Gonçalo Ramos up front, ahead of attacking midfielder João Neves.

It proved to be an effective approach, as both Félix and Ramos got on the scoresheet. In fact, that was the former’s second goal in the competition, having scored the winner while operating in a similar role against Wales.

This international break has seen a continuation of Félix’s fine form at club level, following a 2025/26 campaign that yielded 20 Saudi Pro League goals and 13 assists for Al-Nassr – and another four goal contributions (two goals, two assists) this term.

Ramos has not quite hit the same heights with new club AC Milan, but his record of 12 strikes across 29 caps is nothing to be sniffed at.

Portugal are also unlikely to be overly reliant on the team’s strikers scoring goals, as evident from the attacking skill set in their midfield ranks.

Juventus’ Francisco Conceição and Chelsea’s Petro Neto played either side of anchor man João Palhinha in Oslo, for example, with both players capable of chipping in with goals and assists.

Notably, it was Neto who set up Félix’s 17th-minute opener versus Norway, pulling the ball back to the edge of the box from the left flank for the 26-year-old to sweep into the bottom-left corner.

With so much quality at his disposal – and as he looks to the future and Euro 2028 – Jesus is unlikely to be too worried by the thought of leading a Ronaldo-less Seleção over the coming years.