Ronaldo row widens as Vidal hits out at Jesus and Henry defends Portugal captain

Cristiano Ronaldo’s abrupt exit from Portugal’s Nations League camp has drawn two more high-profile voices into the controversy, with Arturo Vidal taking aim at head coach Jorge Jesus and Thierry Henry urging the episode not to overshadow the 41-year-old captain’s career.

The fallout has been building since Ronaldo was left on the bench for the entirety of Portugal’s 2-1 win over Norway on September 27. Jesus acknowledged that the forward had been warming up for a possible appearance but ultimately decided not to bring him on. Days later, Ronaldo left the squad in Copenhagen after Jesus said publicly that he would not start the following Nations League match against Denmark.

Ronaldo confirmed his departure in a social media statement on September 30, saying he had made the decision after the coach’s news conference and a conversation with Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proença. He stopped short of explaining what had happened, saying he would tell the Portuguese public his reasons “in due course.”

Vidal has since come firmly down on Ronaldo’s side. The Chile international criticised Jesus’ handling of the situation, saying the Portuguese coach “gets it wrong a lot” and arguing that a player with Ronaldo’s record and status deserved to be treated differently. He also described the way the episode unfolded as an inappropriate ending for a player who has played such a central role in Portugal’s football history.

Henry took a more measured position. The former France and Arsenal striker did not claim to know what happened between Ronaldo and Jesus behind closed doors, but rejected the idea that the dispute should redefine how the Portuguese forward is remembered. “Judge his entire career by this situation? Never,” Henry said in an interview with RMC, stressing his respect for Ronaldo’s achievements, longevity and competitive drive.

The dispute has meanwhile become a major talking point in Portugal, where Ronaldo’s departure has divided supporters and dominated sports coverage. Jesus has maintained that selection decisions remain his responsibility, while the Portuguese Football Federation has yet to provide a detailed public account of the circumstances surrounding its captain’s exit.

Portugal responded on the pitch without Ronaldo, beating Denmark 4-2 in Copenhagen on October 1. The team is due to face Norway again in Porto on October 4, with attention now extending well beyond the Nations League result to whether — and under what circumstances — Ronaldo will return to the national team.