“No, I think he should be congratulated on his great career,” Zidane told reporters when the subject of Ronaldo’s camp exit came up.
“What he did is exceptional.”
Ronaldo, 41, walked out of Portugal’s Nations League camp in Copenhagen on September 30, boarding a flight home shortly after coach Jorge Jesus confirmed he would start the following day’s game against Denmark on the bench for a second match running.
Portugal won 4-2 without him, their all-time top scorer back in Madrid while his teammates played on.
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Zidane, who worked with Ronaldo at Real Madrid between 2016 and 2018, chose to look back on the trophies rather than wade into the row. His first spell at the Santiago Bernabéu brought nine trophies and made him the first coach to lift the Champions League in three successive seasons.
“I was lucky to have him with me and he made me win incredible things, so I take my hat off to Cristiano,” Zidane said.
“I will always have great respect for him, as for all players, but even more so for those with whom I shared so much time, and in particular Cristiano, who made us win so much.”
‘Nothing to make a fuss about’
Jesus has given a very different public account of the Copenhagen exit. The Portugal coach told his own news conference that no row had taken place and that Ronaldo’s reaction stemmed from being left on the bench against Norway the previous Sunday.
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“There was no incident whatsoever,” Jesus said.
“Afterwards, as coach, I decided not to bring him on. It’s nothing to make a fuss about.”
Ronaldo had arrived at Copenhagen’s Parken Stadium by team bus, then left for the airport while Jesus was still speaking to the media.
Mbappé out, Upamecano suspended
Zidane’s attention now turns to Belgium at the Stade de France on Monday evening. Kylian Mbappé is out with a knee injury picked up against Turkey, defender Dayot Upamecano is suspended after a red card against Italy, and the head coach has confirmed more rotation is coming.
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“There will be changes, that’s for sure,” Zidane said.
“It is our fourth match, and we can’t just do anything. We will make smart changes, and above all, we will do it to be competitive.”
France beat Belgium 1-0 in Brussels on September 28 thanks to a late Michael Olise strike.
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