LISBON, Portugal — Portugal Football Federation president Pedro Proença has reaffirmed Cristiano Ronaldo's importance to the national team, expressing hope that the 41-year-old captain will return following a disciplinary dispute with head coach Jorge Jesus.

Proença's intervention comes as the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) confirmed on Monday, October 19, that Ronaldo had been handed a 30-day suspension and fined €255 for leaving the national team camp in Copenhagen following disagreements over his role in the squad.

Speaking at a federation event in Funchal, Madeira, Ronaldo's birthplace, Proença praised the five-time Ballon d'Or winner's contribution to Portuguese football and maintained that the veteran forward remained an important figure for the national team.

“We are in the home of the greatest asset Portuguese football has ever produced: Cristiano Ronaldo, our captain,” Proença said.

He also emphasised that Ronaldo remained one of the key figures in Portugal's national team, despite the recent controversy surrounding his relationship with Jesus.

The disagreement emerged during the September international break after Ronaldo was left on the substitutes' bench throughout Portugal's 2-1 UEFA Nations League victory over Norway.

Ronaldo subsequently accused Jesus of failing to honour an agreement concerning his playing time and the management of his fitness.

According to the former Manchester United and Real Madrid forward, the coach had initially agreed that he would miss matches against Norway and Denmark as part of a workload management arrangement.

However, Ronaldo claimed Jesus later informed him that he would feature for approximately 30 minutes against Norway, only for the forward to remain unused despite warming up during the second half.

The situation deteriorated further following discussions between the player and the coaching staff, eventually prompting Ronaldo to leave Portugal's training camp before the subsequent match against Denmark.

Jesus has denied making the agreement described by Ronaldo but has indicated that the experienced forward could return to the national team.

The Portuguese Football Federation subsequently opened disciplinary proceedings against its captain and initially imposed a provisional suspension.

On Monday, the federation's disciplinary council upheld the charge against Ronaldo, ruling that he had intentionally breached Article 160(1) of its disciplinary regulations.

The council imposed a 30-day suspension and a €255 fine, although it did not clarify which international fixtures would be affected or whether the time already served under Ronaldo's provisional suspension would count towards the sanction.

Despite the disciplinary action, Ronaldo has expressed regret over his conduct and apologised for leaving his teammates and failing to acknowledge supporters following the match against Norway.

The Al-Nassr striker has also maintained that he remains committed to representing Portugal and would be available for future international selection after serving any disciplinary punishment.

His comments have eased some concerns over his international future, although his relationship with Jesus remains an issue for the federation to manage.

Ronaldo is Portugal's most-capped player and all-time leading goalscorer, with 146 goals in 234 international appearances.

The veteran forward has represented his country for more than two decades, playing a central role in Portugal's triumph at UEFA Euro 2016 and their subsequent international successes.

His influence extends beyond the pitch, making the disagreement a significant issue for Portuguese football as the national team continues preparing for future international competitions.

Proença's remarks suggest that the federation remains interested in resolving the matter without permanently excluding one of the country's most celebrated footballers.

For Ronaldo, the immediate challenge will be to complete his suspension and rebuild his working relationship with Jesus, whose responsibility includes making tactical and selection decisions for the national team.

While the disciplinary ruling has brought clarity to the federation's formal response, questions remain over how the two men will manage their differences should Ronaldo return to international duty.

For now, the Portuguese Football Federation has left the door open for reconciliation, with Proença maintaining that the country's record goalscorer still has a place in the national team's plans.

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