Cristiano Ronaldo: A nation divided as the left striker makes an important decision on Portugal’s future

Everything happened very quickly.

After the World Cup, Portugal replaced Roberto Martinez with Jesus, who had been Ronaldo’s boss with Al-Nassr last season.

Less than two weeks ago, Ronaldo said: “I had a conversation with our president, with our coach. I still believe that I am capable of helping the national team achieve what they want.”

Things were still going well when he started the 1-0 win over Wales.

Jesus told Ronaldo he would be on the bench for the next match against Norway. After being asked to warm up for part of the match, he remained an unused substitute in a match against Portugal for the first time in 18 years.

Guillem Balague, who wrote a book about Ronaldo in 2015, said: “He is asked to warm up practically for the entire second half.

“There are unspoken rules in football: you don’t do that to Pelé, to Diego Maradona, to Lionel Messi, to Cristiano, right? That’s what he saw, that you don’t do that to those kinds of players.”

And at the final whistle, he took the tunnel instead of going towards the supporters with his teammates.

Jesus said there was no falling out – but confirmed Ronaldo would not start the next match for Denmark either.

That’s when Ronaldo left the training camp and wrote on social media: “When the time comes, I will tell the truth to all Portuguese people about why I left the national team, to which I have always been dedicated.”

Portuguese FA president Pedro Proenca flew to Copenhagen, landing at 2:30 a.m., to try to patch things up with Ronaldo, but failed.

He has since said: “He is part of the national team for his sporting merits, and that must be indisputable. We must pay tribute to Ronaldo.”

After beating Norway in Sunday’s final Nations League match – still without Ronaldo – Jesus said: “If he wants, he will come back to the national team. We can talk before the next call-up, but it’s Cris who will decide.

“It is he who must decide how he wants to end his stay in the national team.”