Cristiano Ronaldo has been urged to be permanently removed from the Portugal national team following a 2,000-word manifesto criticising manager Jorge Jesus. The 41-year-old left the squad after being denied a starting role in Portugal's 2-1 win over Norway last month, reportedly feeling "betrayed" when Jesus did not follow a pre-approved press conference script.
Ronaldo's demands and departure
According to reports, Ronaldo flew home in a sulk after the Norway match and spent the next week drafting a list of demands, including specifying the exact compliments Jesus was required to pay him at his next press conference. The script reportedly instructed the manager to publicly rank Ronaldo alongside Pele and Diego Maradona.
Ronaldo also lamented that Jesus had reneged on a pledge to give him 30 minutes of pitch time. When Jesus refused to comply with the script, Ronaldo said he felt betrayed, as though a sacred covenant had been shattered by tactical common sense.
Timing and comparison to Messi
The timing of Ronaldo's announcement drew attention, as it coincided with Lionel Messi's farewell match for Argentina. Messi scored and assisted twice in a 3-0 win over Benin, receiving an emotional send-off in Buenos Aires. Ronaldo's press release was seen as an attempt to divert global attention back to himself.
Critics argue that Ronaldo's behaviour has been dragging Portugal down for years, citing incidents such as his campaign to claim Bruno Fernandes' goal against Uruguay at the Qatar World Cup. His supporters, with the exception of Piers Morgan, are said to be exhausted by his antics.
Calls for a decisive break
There are those who believe Ronaldo deserves a grand farewell match like Messi's, but the article argues he does not. A player who abandons his team-mates and treats the national shirt as a marketing prop does not earn a dignified curtain call, it says.
Portugal are urged to make the decision Ronaldo is too arrogant to make himself: boot him out, strike his name from the squad list, and lock the door behind him. No farewell friendly, no ceremonial subbing off, no lap of honour. The article concludes that Ronaldo's final international chapter should be remembered as one of narcissistic insecurity, not heroic colossus.
