Cristiano Ronaldo handed 30-day ban and 255-euro fine by Portuguese Football Federation

The Portuguese Football Federation announced on Wednesday a 30-day suspension and a 255-euro fine for Cristiano Ronaldo. The punishment comes after the Portugal captain abandoned the international camp last month upon learning he would not start in two Nations League matches.

• Cristiano Ronaldo has been given a 30-day suspension and a 255-euro fine.
• The ban applies from the Denmark match on 1 October, so he has already served 19 days.
• The Al-Nassr striker will not miss any upcoming Portugal fixtures.
• The disciplinary committee took into account his remorse and his sporting achievements.
• Head coach Jorge Jesus has left the door open for his return.

Why the Portuguese Football Federation sanctioned Cristiano Ronaldo

The conflict began during the September camp, when Ronaldo left the squad after learning he would not play against Norway and would also not start against Denmark on 1 October. The 41-year-old forward said in a lengthy statement at the time that he had left because head coach Jorge Jesus had twice broken his word, describing the situation as an absolute breach of trust.

The FPF disciplinary committee considered the remorse shown by the player in that statement, as well as his contributions to football and his recognition for athletic merit. In his defence, Ronaldo even submitted his CV, including awards and achievements, and referred the committee to his earlier declaration, in which he accepted responsibility, apologised to team-mates and fans, and admitted he deserved to be punished.

A ban that will not keep him out of Portugal matches

The 30-day suspension took effect on the day of the Denmark match. With 19 days already served, the Al-Nassr forward will miss none of Portugal's upcoming games. The national team faces Denmark again in the Nations League on 14 November and visits Wales three days later, and Ronaldo will be available for both if called up.

Jorge Jesus denies any agreement and leaves the door open

The Portugal coach has consistently denied reaching any agreement with Ronaldo over his involvement in those matches. Still, he has not ruled out the captain's return. FPF president Pedro Proença told Portuguese media there is a strong desire to have Ronaldo back with the national team once the matter is resolved.

Cristiano Ronaldo's legacy with the Portugal shirt

Cristiano Ronaldo remains a central figure in the history of Portuguese football. He has scored 146 goals in 234 international appearances, both men's world records. With Portugal he has won Euro 2016 and two Nations League titles, and he has claimed five Ballon d'Or awards during his career.

He joined Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr in December 2022 on a reported annual salary of around 177 million pounds and signed a contract extension last year. His record and his numbers with Portugal underline the weight he still carries in the national team, even after this episode of tension with the coaching staff.