Ronaldo is gone from the camp, and Portugal host Norway in Porto chasing a fourth straight win
Jorge Jesus says he will talk about Cristiano Ronaldo after the game, and Erling Haaland’s Norway arrive at the Dragao without suspended centre-back Torbjorn Heggem.
Oct 4, 2026
A week ago in Oslo, Cristiano Ronaldo warmed up for half an hour and never came on. Portugal won 2-1 anyway, and the fallout from that night is still hanging over every Portugal press conference. On Sunday, 4 October, Portugal play Norway again, this time at the Estadio do Dragao in Porto, and Ronaldo is not in the building.
Kick-off is at 7.45pm UK time, which is 12.15am IST on Monday.
Jesus will talk about Ronaldo after the game
Jorge Jesus did not want the subject at his pre-match press conference on Saturday, and he got it anyway. He called Ronaldo “a symbol of the Portuguese national team” and said “let that be absolutely clear,” but said the time to discuss it would come after the Norway game. Nearly 50 journalists were in the room, and when the questions kept coming back to Ronaldo, the head of Portugal’s media department stepped in and shut the subject down.
The story has kept moving without him. Ronaldo liked an Instagram video in which former Brazil midfielder Felipe Melo criticised the way Portugal’s squad had treated him. Spanish journalist Edu Aguirre also claimed on El Chiringuito that Jesus had privately promised to admit in public that making Ronaldo warm up for 30 minutes in Oslo was a mistake. No such admission came on Saturday.
On the pitch, Portugal have not missed him yet. They have won all three group games, 1-0 against Wales, 2-1 in Oslo and 4-2 in Copenhagen on Thursday, and they lead League A Group 4 with nine points. Goncalo Ramos, the man picked ahead of Ronaldo, has scored in both of the last two games, including the winner against Norway when he pounced on a poor pass from goalkeeper Orjan Nyland.
Norway need Haaland back in the game
Norway started their first League A campaign with a 3-2 win over Denmark. They have lost both games since, 2-1 to Portugal and then 2-1 in Cardiff on Thursday, a result that gave Wales their first win in League A.
Erling Haaland scored in Oslo, his 22nd Nations League goal, which extended his own record for the competition. Wales kept him quiet. Stale Solbakken will also be without centre-back Torbjorn Heggem, who was sent off in Cardiff and is suspended, so Marcus Pedersen is the likely replacement. Martin Odegaard is expected to start in midfield.
For Portugal, Francisco Conceicao has a thigh problem and will be assessed before the game. Bruno Fernandes, who had two assists in Copenhagen after an injury scare, should start again behind Ramos.
What a win would mean
Norway, Denmark and Wales are all on three points, so a fourth straight win would leave Portugal at least six clear at the top with two games left. Wales host Denmark in the group’s other game on the same night.
Norway have reasons to think they can get something. Haaland has already scored against this defence, and Portugal let in two in Copenhagen. But Jesus has a side that keeps winning while the noise gets louder, and a draw in Porto would still feel like a decent night for Solbakken.