Lisbon banners hit out at Jorge Jesus and hail Cristiano Ronaldo as captain forever

Portuguese fans have made their feelings known after Cristiano Ronaldo walked away from the national team camp. Several banners appeared across the Lisbon area on Friday, one of them outside Benfica's Estádio da Luz, carrying a clear message of gratitude for the forward and a sharp rebuke aimed at head coach Jorge Jesus over his handling of the crisis.

• Several banners were spotted across Lisbon on Friday, including one at Benfica's Estádio da Luz.
• The signs thank Cristiano Ronaldo for his Portugal career and attack head coach Jorge Jesus.
• A second banner was placed outside the Portuguese Football Federation headquarters in Oeiras and removed shortly after.
• Portugal beat Denmark 2-4 in the Nations League, their first match since the captain left camp.
• Cristiano Ronaldo has promised to tell the truth about his exit when the time comes.

What the banners say: thanks for the captain, anger at the coach

The signs combine two opposing messages. One side honors Cristiano Ronaldo with the words: "Thank you Cristiano Ronaldo for everything you did for Portugal, you will always be our captain," alongside a photo of the striker in front of the Portuguese flag. The other side takes direct aim at the head coach, showing Jorge Jesus with his head down and lines that read "Jorge Jesus was not up to the task," "lack of sensitivity in managing the CR7 asset," "treating a captain the wrong way," and "inflated ego."

Where the banners were placed and how they were received

Estádio da Luz was not the only location chosen by supporters. Another banner appeared in Oeiras, right in front of the Portuguese Football Federation headquarters, the body that runs the national team. According to Portuguese media, that second sign was taken down shortly after it went up. Neither spot was picked by chance: Benfica's stadium draws one of the country's largest fanbases, while the federation is the institution facing the most pressure over the fallout.

Portugal's first match since Cristiano Ronaldo left the camp

Portugal played their third Nations League fixture on Thursday and beat Denmark 4-2. It was the team's first game since Cristiano Ronaldo left the training camp earlier in the week, a decision that triggered a wave of reactions and debate across the country. The victory, however, has done little to cool the controversy surrounding the captain, which continues to dominate public conversation in Portugal.

What Cristiano Ronaldo has said about leaving the national team

Neither side has offered a detailed account of what happened so far. Cristiano Ronaldo himself has hinted he will not stay silent forever, promising that when the time comes he will tell "the truth to all Portuguese people" about the reasons behind his exit. That pledge has kept fans and media waiting, while the banners in Lisbon show the supporters have already picked a side.

Cristiano Ronaldo's enduring legacy with the Portugal national team

The backing from the stands is no accident. Cristiano Ronaldo is Portugal's all-time leading scorer and the country's most-capped player. His name is tied to the national team's greatest triumphs, including winning Euro 2016 and the inaugural Nations League in 2019. That legacy helps explain why a large section of the fanbase sees his status as captain as untouchable and rejects any handling of the situation they view as disrespectful to the striker.