A dispute over playing time
The Portuguese Football Federation has suspended Cristiano Ronaldo and opened disciplinary proceedings after he walked out of the national team camp during the October international window.
The 41-year-old left camp after a dispute with new coach Jorge Jesus over how many minutes he was getting in the Nations League. He was either an unused substitute or absent for all three of Portugal's matches in the window. His agent has not commented publicly on the walkout.
One to six months on the table
The federation said the case has been referred to its disciplinary investigation committee, and that its findings will remain confidential until the committee finishes its work. Under the federation's regulations, a player who abandons or fails to appear at a training session, match or national team activity without justification can be suspended for one to six months, in addition to a fine.
Ronaldo remains the most capped player in the history of men's international football and its leading scorer. He has not spoken about the disciplinary case.
Portugal won without him
Portugal won all three matches he missed, and his replacement Gonçalo Ramos scored three goals. That run has given the coaching staff room to argue the team can move on from a player who has been its centrepiece for two decades.
A longer ban would shape Portugal's planning for the next Nations League fixtures and any friendlies before a major tournament. It would also raise the question of whether Ronaldo's international career has reached its final chapter, at an age when most forwards have already retired. The federation is expected to rule within weeks.