Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, dramatically walked out of Portugal's camp and flew to Madrid on a private jet after learning that manager Jorge Jesus would start him on the bench again for the Nations League match against Denmark. The forward, who plays his club football for Saudi side Al-Nassr, had already made his frustration clear after being substituted against Wales and kept on the bench throughout the first meeting with Norway. His absence did little to derail Portugal, who beat Denmark 4-2 and then edged Norway 2-1 in the reverse fixture to become the first side to secure a place in the Nations League quarter-finals. Bruno Fernandes dismissed talk of a rift in the squad, insisting that the captain commands universal respect.
Jesus insisted that the door remains open for the veteran forward. "For me, Cris, in the next call-up, if he's playing at Al-Nassr, he'll be a player who can be called up," he said. "If he wants to, he'll return to the national team." Portugal face Denmark again on 14 November.
