Full backing! Portugal FA president bows to Ronaldo as the greatest player in history
The Portuguese federation has spoken, and it has chosen its side. In the middle of the most explosive week of Cristiano Ronaldo's international career, federation president Pedro Proença has delivered a glowing tribute that pulls the rug from under any talk of a forced farewell.
Details: According to The Touchline, Portuguese FA president Pedro Proença stated that Cristiano Ronaldo is the greatest player in history, the ultimate symbol of Portuguese identity, and that what happened between him and Jorge Jesus was simply a misunderstanding that must be resolved internally. Proença added that Cristiano is part of Portugal's legacy and will always be there whenever the coach wants him.
The statement lands at the climax of a saga that has gripped Portuguese football for a fortnight. Ronaldo left the national team camp in Copenhagen on September 30 after spending the entire 2-1 win over Norway on the bench, the first official Portugal match since Euro 2008 in which he was an unused substitute, with coach Jorge Jesus and Proença himself reportedly chasing him to the airport in a failed last-ditch attempt to make him stay. The federation president, who scrapped his schedule to mediate in person, had already held separate talks with both men, and while he refused to disclose details of those conversations, calling them perfectly normal exchanges within the technical domain, he left no ambiguity about Ronaldo's status: his place in the national team is deserved because of his sporting level, and there is absolutely no debate about that. The public backing echoes the mood on the streets, where fans have erected billboards thanking Ronaldo and accusing Jesus of mistreating the captain, one of which appeared right outside the federation headquarters before being taken down. Meanwhile the team has not missed a beat on the pitch, beating Denmark 4-2 and completing a perfect three wins from three in the Nations League group without their number 7.
It's worth noting that Ronaldo, 41, has never announced his retirement from international football and remains the record holder in men's internationals with 146 goals in 234 appearances. He sits on 979 career goals, just 21 short of the mythical 1,000 mark, and the federation had already convinced him to postpone his farewell until 2027. With Jesus promising a recall in November if Ronaldo is playing for Al Nassr, the next international window will reveal whether Proença's mediation has truly closed the rift.
Reminder: The door is open! Jesus promises Ronaldo a call-up if he wants to return.
Miguel Solomons
Dailysports's expert
