Former France forward Christophe Dugarry has slammed Cristiano Ronaldo following his exit from the Portugal camp, questioning his ego and believes that the young footballers in the country would be disappointed.
Ronaldo rejoined Portugal’s squad during the international break in the previous month, playing under newly appointed head coach Jorge Jesus.
He featured in their 1-0 victory against Wales at home during the 2026-27 UEFA Nations League competition. Nevertheless, he was relegated to the bench during their subsequent match against Norway, which Portugal won 2-1 in an away fixture.
The 41-year-old subsequently withdrew from the camp after Jesus communicated that Ronaldo would also be benched for their upcoming match against Denmark.
Dugarry criticized the experienced forward, stating on RMC Sport, “It tired me. It’s terrible, having so little respect for your compatriots, your nation. It’s terrible, because that’s really not the image he conveyed.
“He conveyed the image of a healthy guy, supportive, tall, generous… And there, I have the impression that he has transformed, that his ego is eating away at him over the last few months.
“When he could have departed with tremendous honor, it’s finished; it’s been compromised. How can one expect him to return? For what objective?… What signal are you conveying to Portuguese youth?” he continued.
Dugarry further contended that Portugal demonstrates “greater effectiveness” in the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo. He maintains that the experienced player ought to be engaged in “mentorship or succession planning”.