Ronaldo-Jesus row cannot divide Portugal, says Fernandes
Bruno Fernandes has urged Portugal’s players, staff and supporters to stay united amid the dispute between Cristiano Ronaldo and Jorge Jesus, insisting the forward’s standing as a national icon must be respected.
Ronaldo abruptly left Portugal’s camp earlier this week amid reports that he was unhappy at being an unused substitute in their 2-1 Nations League win in Norway. He said he would tell his side of the story in due course.
Jesus has declined to explain the disagreement in detail, saying only that he would never allow a player to dictate his decisions as a coach.
In Ronaldo’s absence, Fernandes captained the Selecao to an entertaining 4-2 victory over Denmark on Thursday. Portugal have won all three of their opening matches in Nations League Group A4, prompting some supporters to question whether their attack is more fluid without the 41-year-old.
Portugal with and without Ronaldo
International matches since the start of 2025
| Record | Without Ronaldo | With Ronaldo |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 5 | 17 |
| W–D–L | 4–1–0 | 10–4–3 |
| Win rate | 80% | 59% |
| Goals per game | 3.4 | 1.9 |
But Fernandes, who also played alongside Ronaldo at Manchester United, wants people to avoid taking sides. His priorities are unity within the camp and ensuring Ronaldo is remembered as Portugal’s greatest player if his international career has come to an end.
“I had a conversation with Cristiano, and what I told him, which I’ll repeat here, is this: ‘The most important thing is that, regardless of what happens, Cristiano Ronaldo will never cease to be the greatest symbol of our national team, of our football, and of the country,’” Fernandes told reporters on Saturday.
“He has a reserved place not only among the best of all time, but also in the hearts of all Portuguese people, and the most important thing is that we stop dividing things.”
“What I ask is that the country does not divide itself, does not make choices and respects all sides.”
Fernandes said the players were “outside this controversy”, adding: “But, at the same time, Cristiano is and will be the biggest icon of our national team. He deserves everyone’s respect, regardless of who likes him more or less.”
Ronaldo’s 146 goals in 234 appearances are both records in men’s international football. This year, he and Lionel Messi also became the first players to appear at six editions of the World Cup.
Their tournaments took different paths. Messi scored eight goals as Argentina reached a second successive final, becoming the first player to start three World Cup finals. Ronaldo scored three times: twice against Uzbekistan in the group stage and from the penalty spot against Croatia in the round of 32.
That penalty remains Ronaldo’s only World Cup knockout-stage goal, with his other 10 goals at the tournament all coming in the group stage.
