Dugarry Critiques Ronaldo's Exit from Portugal Team

Former France forward Christophe Dugarry criticized Cristiano Ronaldo following his departure from the Portugal national team. Dugarry questioned Ronaldo's respect for his country and expressed concern that young Portuguese footballers would be disappointed by his actions.

Ronaldo had rejoined the Portugal squad during the previous month's international break under newly appointed head coach Jorge Jesus, participating in a 1-0 victory against Wales in the 2026-27 UEFA Nations League. However, he was benched in the following match against Norway, which Portugal won 2-1.

After being informed by Jesus that he would also be benched for an upcoming match against Denmark, the 41-year-old withdrew from the camp. Dugarry stated on RMC Sport that Ronaldo's behavior was disappointing and indicated that Portugal performs better without him, suggesting that Ronaldo should focus on mentorship or succession planning instead.