Jorge Jesus has enjoyed a strong start as Portugal head coach, overseeing wins against Wales and Norway in the UEFA Nations League. Ahead of Thursday's trip to Denmark, however, the build-up has centered on a 'crisis' meeting with captain Cristiano Ronaldo.

The 41-year-old striker, a regular in Portugal's starting line-up since 2003, did not play a minute of Sunday's win over Norway and did not train with his teammates on Monday or Tuesday. The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) has not reported any injury or physical issue with the player.

An automatic starter for two decades, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner was dropped from the starting line-up by then-head coach Fernando Santos for Portugal's 2022 World Cup knockout matches against Switzerland and Morocco. Roberto Martinez, Santos's successor, reinstated Ronaldo and selected him from the start for all 10 of Portugal's matches across the 2024 European Championship and this summer's World Cup finals.

Sources have told *The Athletic* that Ronaldo was irritated by not featuring at all in the game. It was just the third time the forward was an unused substitute for Portugal. Jesus and Ronaldo have shared a strong professional relationship, with Jesus having coached Ronaldo for a year at Al Nassr.