Prince Vincent calls Cristiano Ronaldo selfish for leaving team camp

Prince Vincent of Denmark expressed sharp disappointment over Cristiano Ronaldo’s sudden departure from the Portugal national team camp ahead of their UEFA Nations League fixture in Copenhagen, gala.de reported.

A Royal Stint at Parken Stadium Interrupted

The 15-year-old royal attended the October 1, 2026, match at Parken Stadium specifically hoping to watch his favorite footballer take the pitch. Instead, Ronaldo left the squad prior to the fixture after national team coach Jorge Jesus announced that Gonçalo Ramos would start in his place. Portugal ultimately defeated Denmark 4:2 in the encounter.

Prince Vincent Criticizes Ronaldo Absence As Selfish

Speaking to the Danish publication See and Hear, Prince Vincent made no secret of his frustration regarding the veteran forward’s decision to leave the team. The young royal argued that skipping the match dismissed the supporters who had purchased tickets specifically to see the Portuguese star in action.

I was really looking forward to Ronaldo coming here to Parken and seeing him, but then he made this move. (…) It’s a bit selfish of him. What about all his fans who came to see him play?

Prince Vincent

While acknowledging that a player holds the right to sit out, the prince criticized the manner of the departure. He noted that Ronaldo appeared to leave simply because he lacked the motivation to play after previously spending 90 minutes on the bench during a match against Norway.

Diverse European Media Reactions To Squad Exit

Coverage across European media outlets highlighted different facets of the same squad departure. While gala.de detailed the timeline of the player’s exit following discussions with team leadership and the Portuguese Football Federation president, the social context of the royal’s stadium visit was also emphasized.

Prince Vincent attended the match accompanied by Dennis Sandlau and Summer Sandlau, a classmate at Tranegårdskolen whose father is married to a close friend of Queen Mary. This personal detail provided contrast to the broader sporting controversy surrounding the national squad’s roster management.

Roster Dispute Triggers Sudden Departure

The roster dispute developed in the days leading up to the Copenhagen fixture. After sitting out the entirety of Norway’s match on the bench, Ronaldo held discussions with coach Jorge Jesus and federation officials before issuing a brief statement on Instagram confirming his departure from the training camp.

Media accounts linked the sudden exit to player dissatisfaction regarding his diminished role in the starting lineup and the ongoing preference for Gonçalo Ramos. Despite exiting the camp, the 41-year-old forward did not announce an international retirement.

Portugal carried on to secure the 4:2 victory over Denmark.