Portugal Football Federation president Pedro Proença has expressed confidence that Cristiano Ronaldo could return to the national team during the November international break, despite a provisional suspension and an ongoing disciplinary investigation involving the forward.
Proença said the federation, head coach Jorge Jesus and Ronaldo’s teammates all want the captain back in the squad, adding that the player is also willing to return.
“The federation, the coach and all of Ronaldo’s teammates are aligned: we want Cristiano back,” Proença said.
He added that he expected Ronaldo to return during the November international window, describing the five-time Ballon d’Or winner as the best player of all time.
However, the comments do not amount to a formal announcement that Ronaldo’s return has been confirmed. His availability will depend on the outcome of the disciplinary process and any decisions by the federation.
The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) announced on Saturday that disciplinary proceedings had been opened against the 41-year-old forward following his departure from the national team’s camp ahead of a Nations League fixture against Denmark.
The federation’s disciplinary authorities imposed a provisional, non-automatic suspension and classified the case as urgent. The matter has been referred for further investigation.
Ronaldo left Portugal’s training camp in Copenhagen on September 30 following a disagreement with coach Jorge Jesus.
The dispute reportedly arose after Ronaldo was left unused in Portugal’s match against Norway, despite having warmed up during the game.
Ronaldo later criticised the handling of the situation, saying he believed an understanding about his role had not been honoured. He subsequently apologised to supporters for failing to acknowledge them after the Norway match and said he was prepared to accept the consequences of leaving the camp.
The incident has raised questions about whether the Portugal captain could miss the team’s next fixtures if the disciplinary process results in a longer suspension.
Portugal are scheduled to host Denmark on November 14 before travelling to face Wales on November 17 in the final round of their UEFA Nations League group-stage fixtures.
The team have already secured qualification for the quarter-finals, but Ronaldo’s availability remains a major talking point ahead of the next international window.
The forward remains one of the most influential figures in Portuguese football, having represented his country for more than two decades.
His potential return would be a significant boost for Portugal, although his participation in November’s matches is not yet guaranteed.
For now, Proença’s comments suggest the federation wants to resolve the situation and reintegrate its captain, with the final decision dependent on the disciplinary process and squad selection.
