Jorge Jesus says Portugal's focus is purely on Sunday's clash with Norway, with the fallout from Cristiano Ronaldo's departure being shelved until after that game.
Ronaldo's glittering international career may be over after he stormed out of Portugal's camp earlier this week, amid reports of a rift with new head coach Jesus.
Jesus – who worked with Ronaldo at Al-Nassr – left the 41-year-old on the bench throughout a 2-1 Nations League win over Erling Haaland and company in Oslo last week.
Ronaldo then trained away from his team-mates before leaving the camp on the eve of the Selecao's entertaining 4-2 win over Denmark on Thursday, which saw Joao Cancelo, Goncalo Ramos, Vitinha and Joao Felix get on the scoresheet.
Ronaldo took to social media to say he will "tell the truth" about his exit from the camp in due course, while Jesus has refused to go into detail about the incident, only saying he would never allow any player to dictate his decisions as a coach.
Portugal will play their first home game since Ronaldo's departure on Sunday, knowing another victory over Norway at Porto's Estadio do Dragao would all but guarantee qualification for the last eight next March.
And that is the only thing on Jesus' mind, as he told reporters: "The focus has to be on the national team, and on Norway in this case, on what we have to do well.
"It's not about us ignoring Cris, he is a symbol of the national team and of Portugal. After the game, there will be plenty of time to talk about it."
Asked if Ronaldo could at least return in an ambassadorial role before the 2030 World Cup, which Portugal will co-host alongside Spain and Morocco, Jesus said: "You are already looking ahead to 2030. It's four years. Football is day by day, it's not even month by month.
"Tomorrow [Sunday], the game is the most important thing. It will be very intense, and that's what I want to talk about. I don't want to change the subject.
"I'm going to focus on what I talked about – the team and our opponent. Norway is a team, in my opinion, who are in the top five in Europe, with great players.
"Then, we will have time to analyse what happens here."
Jesus was then asked what sort of reception he expected from Portugal's home fans, given the perception of a rift between himself and the country's greatest-ever player.
"The affection that I seek is nothing more than what the national team should get," he said. "The affection should be for the team, for the players.
"I am part of a team, I am the commander of a team. Before, I was also a staunch, crazy fan of the national team, and I didn't look at the coach or the players, I looked at the flag.
"I don't want to be part of anything except the national team."
Since the start of 2025, Portugal have won 80% of their matches when Ronaldo has not appeared (P5 W4 D1), compared to just 59% when he has featured (P17 W10 D4 L3), also averaging almost twice as many goals per game without Ronaldo (3.4) than with him (1.9).
Dihaciknyz
0
Taking about a coach that disrespected the bone behind the country, then you bring Messi topic
The bone behind a country but never win best player award for the country, and evidence is the country benching him to show he is nothing.The country bench him when they are tired of carrying the finished and expired goatless
Dihaciknyz
0
Who talking about Messi here, The one trying to escape responsibility early
But he was not a rejected bench warmer
Jieabkmpr
0
This coach doesn’t have respect for CR7 He better do
Old fool that’s what you are
Jieabkmpr
0
How does it feels guys, for CR7 # to be given to anyone at this stage . It shows no respect to CBoy. If I had to power, I could mobilize fans against that player that agree to wear that number. And on the serious note. If CR7 is not happy Portugal will soon regret it. As for supporting them, I am not sure I will
Who the heck is this lunatic
nomabdmny
0
Cristiano's fans are not football fans, they are just Cristiano fc fans,Cristiano's fans doesn't a team or club, Cristiano is their club and team, they believe Cristiano is more important than the team or club he plays for. Check what happened to cr7 at Madrid, Juve, utd, he behaved he is above the team and the club and was the reason why he was sold from those places. Messi believed the team come first and above everyone and that is why he retire even when he is still the best but cr7 refuses to retire or sit on the bench because he believes he is above the coach, players and officials and the team so he continues to stay as long as he wants. Look at what Messi has done for Argentina yet he never disrespected them at any point, Messi once retired from Argentina national team before now because he doesn't want to have issues and Cristiano and his fans mocked, bullied and disrespected Messi, even when Messi retired recently they still mocked him even Cristiano mock Messi but now it is same Messi they are using as yardstick for Cristiano to be respected.
Taking about a coach that disrespected the bone behind the country, then you bring Messi topic
nomabdmny
0
Cristiano's fans are not football fans, they are just Cristiano fc fans,Cristiano's fans doesn't a team or club, Cristiano is their club and team, they believe Cristiano is more important than the team or club he plays for. Check what happened to cr7 at Madrid, Juve, utd, he behaved he is above the team and the club and was the reason why he was sold from those places. Messi believed the team come first and above everyone and that is why he retire even when he is still the best but cr7 refuses to retire or sit on the bench because he believes he is above the coach, players and officials and the team so he continues to stay as long as he wants. Look at what Messi has done for Argentina yet he never disrespected them at any point, Messi once retired from Argentina national team before now because he doesn't want to have issues and Cristiano and his fans mocked, bullied and disrespected Messi, even when Messi retired recently they still mocked him even Cristiano mock Messi but now it is same Messi they are using as yardstick for Cristiano to be respected.
Who talking about Messi here, The one trying to escape responsibility early
nomabdmny
0
well said look at flag while we appreciate the past contribution by ronaldo he should now give the chance to young players and don't hold Portugal to ransom
Can you hear your self I is he the only on on the team, by him playing, does it stops the other nine from playing?
kuhbcdikrt
0
This coach doesn’t have respect for CR7 He better do
So you are saying the coach should jeopardize his own job to please Ronaldo! That is when he demonstrates his respect for him.... 😠 😡 👿
nomabdmny
0
How does it feels guys, for CR7 # to be given to anyone at this stage . It shows no respect to CBoy. If I had to power, I could mobilize fans against that player that agree to wear that number. And on the serious note. If CR7 is not happy Portugal will soon regret it. As for supporting them, I am not sure I will
nomabdmny
1
This coach doesn’t have respect for CR7 He better do
Rapaiknry
1
CR7 is only about his self and accolades. his blinded supporters cant see that he want to prove soooo much he is the best so he puts himself above team ,country and everybody else . it's a pity he feels degrading sitting on the bench. Even when playing poorly and gets substituted he shows his displeasure
Desciklnot
1
Ronaldo is a past tense not need to focus
Dihaciknyz
1
Cristiano's fans are not football fans, they are just Cristiano fc fans,Cristiano's fans doesn't a team or club, Cristiano is their club and team, they believe Cristiano is more important than the team or club he plays for. Check what happened to cr7 at Madrid, Juve, utd, he behaved he is above the team and the club and was the reason why he was sold from those places. Messi believed the team come first and above everyone and that is why he retire even when he is still the best but cr7 refuses to retire or sit on the bench because he believes he is above the coach, players and officials and the team so he continues to stay as long as he wants. Look at what Messi has done for Argentina yet he never disrespected them at any point, Messi once retired from Argentina national team before now because he doesn't want to have issues and Cristiano and his fans mocked, bullied and disrespected Messi, even when Messi retired recently they still mocked him even Cristiano mock Messi but now it is same Messi they are using as yardstick for Cristiano to be respected.
Tomckmtyz
0
I am not in support of what Ronaldo did but even you that you are not a professional football player, in your local game someone tells you to warm up from the 57th minute and doesn't let you play and no prior notice of his intentions of not letting you play. How will you feel
Yeah you feel angry but you don't walk away from your team
nohcilmnsy
0
I am not in support of what Ronaldo did but even you that you are not a professional football player, in your local game someone tells you to warm up from the 57th minute and doesn't let you play and no prior notice of his intentions of not letting you play. How will you feel
I will feel bad but that doesn't give me the right to storm off the stadium. that's a huge disrespect to his coach teammates and even the fans and you wonder why he is hated by his own teammates
Alesh1992
0
They really don't know anything they just come out to spit lies
Don't mind them, thank God everyone isn't dull like them, they are all over twitter spewing gibberish with half knowledge
frastel
0
Your stupid Ronaldo disrespected tge whole dressing room, if you are not selected to play for the entire 90 minutes its not a crime, it simply means rge team is doing well, your services are not needed, it does not mean you are not important
I am not in support of what Ronaldo did but even you that you are not a professional football player, in your local game someone tells you to warm up from the 57th minute and doesn't let you play and no prior notice of his intentions of not letting you play. How will you feel
Tayadiy
1
No one in Portugal including the president could ever come close to CR7. Portugal and this coach are hypocrites giving out his jersey number in less than 24HRS is an indication of pre-planned set up for Ronaldo!
Your stupid Ronaldo disrespected tge whole dressing room, if you are not selected to play for the entire 90 minutes its not a crime, it simply means rge team is doing well, your services are not needed, it does not mean you are not important
viaacelors
0
well said look at flag while we appreciate the past contribution by ronaldo he should now give the chance to young players and don't hold Portugal to ransom
Tomckmtyz
1
Stop being an ignorant, just take your phone and ask Google or Chatgpt why his number was given to Leao... Everything is conspiracy to Ronaldo fanboys, fanbase devoid of knowledge but only to spin theories that doesn't exist
They really don't know anything they just come out to spit lies
Juniorpope
0
majajkega
stupid fans
Alesh1992
1
No one in Portugal including the president could ever come close to CR7. Portugal and this coach are hypocrites giving out his jersey number in less than 24HRS is an indication of pre-planned set up for Ronaldo!
Stop being an ignorant, just take your phone and ask Google or Chatgpt why his number was given to Leao... Everything is conspiracy to Ronaldo fanboys, fanbase devoid of knowledge but only to spin theories that doesn't exist
natiksuyz
2
No one in Portugal including the president could ever come close to CR7. Portugal and this coach are hypocrites giving out his jersey number in less than 24HRS is an indication of pre-planned set up for Ronaldo!
yeuabklopr
1
majajkega