Former Barcelona and Juventus midfielder Arturo Vidal has strongly criticized Portugal coach Jorge Jesus over the treatment of Cristiano Ronaldo, describing the situation surrounding the veteran forward’s departure from the national team camp as “shameful.”
Vidal’s comments came after Ronaldo left Portugal’s training camp ahead of the UEFA Nations League meeting with Denmark. The 41-year-old captain had been an unused substitute during Portugal’s 2-1 victory over Norway despite warming up during the second half. Reuters reported that Ronaldo subsequently left the camp following tensions surrounding his role in the team.
Speaking to Portuguese newspaper A Bola, Vidal expressed his support for Ronaldo and questioned the way the situation had been handled.
“Honestly, this is shameful. A player like Cristiano, who is one of the four best players in the history of football, and everyone would place him first, second or third, leaving the national team in this way. This is very bad.”
Vidal, who played alongside Ronaldo at Juventus, also directed criticism at Jorge Jesus, arguing that the Portugal captain deserved greater consideration because of his contribution to the national team.
“I think the coach came across very badly. Cristiano must be cared for and protected, as he is a player who has given everything for Portugal and made the national team one of the best teams in the world.”
The Chilean midfielder added that Ronaldo had earned the right to make his own decision after his extraordinary contribution to Portuguese football.
“A player like this cannot leave in this way. Cristiano has the right to do what he wants. What he has given to football and to the Portugal national team is that he took them to another level. There are coaches who do not respect these things.”
A Bola reported Vidal’s comments on October 2, with the former Barcelona star making clear that he disagreed with how the disagreement between Ronaldo and Jesus had developed.
Why Did Cristiano Ronaldo Leave Portugal’s Camp?
The controversy began after Ronaldo was left on the bench for Portugal’s 2-1 Nations League victory over Norway. According to Reuters, Jesus had indicated that Ronaldo would come on as a substitute but ultimately decided against introducing him. Ronaldo then trained separately from the squad in the following days.
The situation escalated after discussions involving Ronaldo, Jesus and Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proença. Ronaldo subsequently announced his decision to leave the national team camp. Reuters reported that his international future had become uncertain amid the dispute.
Rafael Leão Wears Ronaldo’s No. 7 Shirt
The controversy intensified when Rafael Leão was listed with Portugal’s iconic No. 7 shirt for the Nations League match against Denmark.
RTP reported that Leão switched from his usual No. 17 to No. 7, while Fábio Silva was assigned No. 17. The report also noted that UEFA competition regulations require squad numbers to be assigned rather than left vacant.
The shirt-number change nevertheless attracted significant attention because of Ronaldo’s long association with No. 7 for Portugal.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal Legacy
Ronaldo made his senior Portugal debut in 2003 and went on to become the country’s most-capped player and record goalscorer. Reuters currently lists him with 234 international appearances and 146 goals.
His international career has included major achievements such as Portugal’s victory at UEFA Euro 2016 and Nations League titles in 2019 and 2025.
Ronaldo has also played a central role in Portugal’s success across multiple generations, making his latest dispute with the national team particularly significant.
Vidal Backs Ronaldo Amid Portugal Controversy
Vidal’s intervention adds another high-profile voice to the debate surrounding Ronaldo’s departure.
The former Bayer Leverkusen, Juventus, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan and Barcelona midfielder believes Ronaldo’s contribution to Portugal should be taken into account when assessing how the situation was handled.
For now, the dispute between Ronaldo and Jesus remains unresolved, while questions continue over the veteran forward’s future with the Portugal national team.