From slamming Queiroz to storming off: Ronaldo's controversies with Portugal

With 234 appearances, 146 goals, one European Championship and two Nations League titles, the numbers are impressive, and no one can take away his status. Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the greatest players in world football and a unique figure for Portugal.

But while he has reached the very top, Portugal's captain has also been involved in some less than positive moments. The latest came on Wednesday, when he left the national team camp during training on the eve of the match against Denmark in the third round of Nations League Group A4.

Here is a look back at his other controversies on national team duty:

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'Talk to Queiroz'

It was perhaps Ronaldo's first major disappointment with Portugal. A EURO 2004 finalist and a 2006 World Cup semi-finalist, he reached the quarter-finals at EURO 2008 and entered 2010 as the undisputed leader, already in possession of a Ballon d'Or.

However, Portugal had a tournament to forget in South Africa. After drawing with Ivory Coast and Brazil, as well as thrashing North Korea, they were eliminated by Spain in the round of 16 after a lacklustre display.

Clearly frustrated, Ronaldo lashed out at Carlos Queiroz after the elimination, proclaiming: "Explanations? Talk to Queiroz."

The microphone

Six years later, with Portugal struggling to make it out of the group stage of the European Championship they would go on to win, Ronaldo was involved in an unusual incident.

On the eve of the match against Hungary, Ronaldo was approached by CMTV. Unhappy with the questions, he threw the microphone into a lake.

Curiously, he is now one of the shareholders in the group that owns the channel.

The armband

Wearing the national team captain's armband is one of the proudest moments for any Portuguese player. However, on two occasions, the item proved uncomfortable for Ronaldo.

In the EURO 2020 round of 16, after the defeat by Belgium, Ronaldo expressed his frustration by throwing down and kicking the captain's armband. Later, in Serbia during 2022 World Cup qualifying, he did the same to vent his frustration after a goal was ruled out beyond the 90th minute.

'You’re in such a hurry to take me off'

The relationship between Ronaldo and Fernando Santos always appeared to be built on great mutual respect, until the 2022 World Cup. In Qatar, the first signs of a breakdown began to emerge.

In the third round of the group stage, with Portugal already through to the round of 16, Ronaldo started against South Korea but was substituted in the 65th minute. His frustration was clear, saying: "You’re in such a hurry to take me off."

He was then left on the bench for the next two matches, which were, coincidentally, Fernando Santos' final two games as head coach.

Nations League tantrums

The latest incident, and perhaps the final one, happened this September. Ronaldo was an unused substitute against Norway - the first official match he had not appeared in since EURO 2008.

He did not take kindly to warming up without being brought on, and at the final whistle he went straight to the dressing room while the team thanked the supporters.

It was the final straw. He would not train with the national team again and, despite all of Jorge Jesus' assurances at his press conference, he left camp during the session at Parken Stadium.