Portugal have won all four of their UEFA Nations League group matches this autumn, the last three with Cristiano Ronaldo either on the bench or out of the squad entirely. For Alexi Lalas, that is the point.
In his latest Fox Sports column, the former US international wrote that “this incredible weight (or albatross as some people may say) is now gone” from the Portugal squad, and that “a burden, whether they have admitted it or not, is going to be lifted.”
The 41-year-old captain was provisionally suspended by the Portuguese Football Federation on October 10 after walking out of the national team camp during the September window.
A manager who ‘broke his word’
Ronaldo had been an unused substitute in the 2-1 win in Oslo on September 27, warming up along the sideline without being called on. He left camp before the trip to Copenhagen for the Denmark match.
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In a 2,000-word statement published on October 6, Ronaldo accused head coach Jorge Jesus of reneging on an agreement over his playing time.
“The manager had broken his word to me.”
“It was the second time he had broken his word to me.”
Ronaldo apologised to his teammates and to the supporters who had travelled to Oslo, and accepted that there would be consequences.
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“The consequences of my actions must be assessed and punished by the Portuguese Football Federation.”
The federation opened disciplinary proceedings on October 9, with the case given urgent status, and announced the suspension a day later. Federation regulations allow for a ban of one to six months plus a fine for players who leave the national team without justification.
Ramos has not missed a beat
Portugal have barely noticed the absence. The 2-1 win in Norway was followed by a 4-2 result in Copenhagen and a 2-1 home victory over Norway in Porto, with Gonçalo Ramos, the man Jorge Jesus sent on in place of Ronaldo in Portugal’s group opener against Wales, scoring in each of the three matches. Portugal top their group heading into November’s fixtures.
The question Lalas puts to Messi
Ronaldo has signalled he is open to a return once any ban has been served.
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“After serving whatever suspension is imposed on me, I’ll be available, as I’ve always been until now, to compete and win for our national team.”
Lalas aimed his broader point at Lionel Messi. On his State of the Union podcast, he laid out the question of when a great player should walk away before becoming a drag on his team.
“When it happens in a way that has kind of happened to Cristiano Ronaldo, that would be problematic.”
Portugal’s next UEFA Nations League match is at home to Denmark in Braga on November 14, with the FPF disciplinary hearing still pending.
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