Cristiano Ronaldo remains on bench during Portugal's Nations League match

On September 27, 2026, 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo did not participate in Portugal's 2-1 Nations League victory against Norway, remaining on the bench for the entire match. This event marks the first time in 18 years that the veteran forward was benched during a competitive international game while being available for selection. The last such occurrence took place on June 15, 2008, against Switzerland during the Euro group stage.

Ronaldo, who holds the record for Portugal with 234 appearances and 146 goals, has only once previously sat out an entire match while on the roster, which occurred during a friendly game against Croatia on June 8, 2024. Following the match against Norway, media reports highlighted his reaction to the situation, signaling a potential shift in his role within the national team squad.

Preparations for the upcoming match against Denmark saw further developments as Ronaldo skipped a team training session in Malmö on September 29. The Portuguese Football Federation clarified that he is not injured, stating his absence was due to a lack of required training equipment. Ronaldo subsequently shared a photo on social media in his national team uniform to reaffirm his commitment to the squad as the team prepares for the next fixture.