The rift escalated after Ronaldo spent a full 90 minutes on the bench during a 2-1 win over Norway, marking the first time he ever missed a full competitive match since 2008. Tensions rose as Ronaldo skipped team training and left the pitch immediately after the match without greeting fans, prompting Portuguese Football Federation President Pedro Proença to travel to Denmark to mediate. Coach Jorge Jesus maintains that players must earn their starting positions regardless of their status.
