Cristiano Ronaldo has left the Portugal national team camp on the eve of its match against Denmark, according to RMC Sport. The outlet reports that the 41-year-old forward has decided to retire from international football, a claim attributed to Portuguese press.
The departure follows Ronaldo being left on the bench during Portugal's previous match, according to lemonde.fr. Foot Mercato reports he was seen at Copenhagen airport, while Le Figaro says he skipped training before leaving the squad.
Ronaldo addressed his exit in comments carried by Le Figaro, saying he would tell Portuguese fans the truth "in due time." He did not give a reason for his departure in the remarks cited.
Le Télégramme described the episode as a psychodrama surrounding the national team. RMC Sport framed it as a clash between Ronaldo and the Portugal setup.
Ronaldo is Portugal's most capped player and its record goalscorer, though the reports above do not specify the terms or duration of any retirement decision. None of the outlets cited indicated whether Portugal's federation has confirmed his exit or commented on it.
Portugal is scheduled to face Denmark, with Ronaldo's absence leaving the squad without its longtime captain for the fixture.
What to watch next: whether the Portuguese federation confirms Ronaldo's international retirement, and how Portugal lines up against Denmark without him.
