Jorge Jesus makes Cristiano Ronaldo stance clear with blunt Portugal admission: “It wasn’t his moment”

Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus has made it clear that Cristiano Ronaldo was not included in the starting lineup for Sunday’s 2-1 win over Norway due to the team's need for different characteristics in that particular match. Despite initially stating Ronaldo would feature, Jesus revealed he had initially planned to bring him on at the hour mark, but it wasn't the right time given the flow of the game.

The decision to leave Ronaldo out, who is Portugal's captain and record goalscorer, has drawn attention, but Jesus emphasized his choice was not based on Ronaldo's reputation, but rather on the match. Jesus also addressed Ronaldo's apparent lack of greeting for fans after the final whistle, stating he would talk to the captain about it.

The move to exclude Ronaldo could be significant as Jesus starts to build his Portugal side following his appointment as Roberto Martinez's successor. While Ronaldo remains a crucial figure in Portuguese football, Jesus' comments suggest that even his captaincy and record might not guarantee his place in the team.