Ronaldo provisionally suspended by Portugal after team walkout

File: Portugal’s forward Cristiano Ronaldo reacts during the UEFA Nations League semi-final football match between Germany and Portugal in Munich, southern Germany on June 4, 2025. Photo by Alexandra BEIER / AFP.

Cristiano Ronaldo has been provisionally suspended by the Portuguese Football Federation following the opening of disciplinary proceedings against the forward over his departure from the national team’s camp.

Football journalist Fabrizio Romano shared the development in a post on X on Saturday, quoting an official statement from the federation confirming the decision.

It reads, “The initiation of disciplinary proceedings against Cristiano Ronaldo, by deliberation of the Non-Professional Section, of October 9, 2026, with the purpose of the investigation of any disciplinary relevance of the facts participated on October 7

“Without prejudice to the automatic preventive suspension to which he was subject until the date of establishment, the non-automatic preventive suspension of the player was determined and the urgent nature was attributed to the process.”

The latest decision follows Ronaldo’s departure from Portugal’s training camp on September 30 amid a disagreement with head coach Jorge Jesus.

Ronaldo said he decided to leave after the coach allegedly failed to honour an agreement concerning his playing time and how the situation would be explained publicly.

The dispute followed Portugal’s Nations League match against Norway, in which Ronaldo was an unused substitute despite warming up during the game.

After leaving the camp, Ronaldo apologised to his teammates and Portuguese supporters, accepting responsibility for his actions and acknowledging that the federation should determine the consequences.

The Al-Nassr forward is Portugal’s all-time leading scorer, with 146 international goals, and holds the national record for appearances, having represented his country 234 times.