Cristiano Ronaldo on Portugal's preliminary list for November Nations League games

A place on the preliminary list

Cristiano Ronaldo is among the 55 players on Jorge Jesus's preliminary list for Portugal's November matches, according to O Jogo. The list covers the Nations League games against Denmark on 14 November and Wales on 17 November. The other two Al Nassr players, João Félix and Samu Costa, are also on it. Samu Costa was at the World Cup but was left out of Jesus's first list. Being on the preliminary list does not guarantee a call-up, because the final squad has not yet been named and that announcement is still more than a week away.

Portugal has already secured a place in the quarter-finals of the competition, but these two group games still have to be played. Portugal is one point behind the group leader and, per O Jogo, needs only a draw to confirm first place in the group.

How the dispute unfolded

Ronaldo left the national team camp in Copenhagen on 30 September, after spending the match against Norway three days earlier on the bench. He was unhappy with how much playing time he received. He then posted a long statement on Instagram criticising Jesus for not keeping to agreements, and in a communiqué he spoke of a breach of confidence with the coach. He also said he remained available for the national team.

The disciplinary council of the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) announced a 30-day suspension and a fine of 255 euros on 19 October. The suspension counts from the day he left the camp, which means it ends on Friday, 30 October. Because of this, nothing formally stands in the way of him playing against Denmark or Wales.

Federation and coach

FPF president Pedro Proença said at an event of the Porto Football Association, about two weeks before this report, that everyone wants Ronaldo back, including the federation, the coach and the players. He described the situation as a misunderstanding between the player and Jesus and said the federation has been in near daily contact with everyone involved.

“We are all sitting down at the table, there is a great desire to have our captain back.”

Asked about the situation shortly after Portugal's match against Norway, Jesus left the decision open and placed the responsibility with the player.

“I don't know what will happen. For me, everything is open. He has to decide, it's his life.”

What comes next

Ronaldo has not yet said whether he wants to return straight away, according to the reports. The first date that matters is Friday, 30 October, when the suspension ends. Portugal then hosts Denmark in Braga on 14 November before travelling to Cardiff to face Wales on 17 November. The final squad announcement will settle whether the forward is back in the national team for those matches.