Cristiano Ronaldo’s Most Memorable Tantrums
The Commander, despite being regarded as one of the greatest footballers in history and renowned for his discipline, has also been criticized at times for immaturity and arrogance.
Cristiano Ronaldo once again found himself at the center of attention after leaving the Portugal national team camp during the first international break following the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The forward did not play against Norway in the UEFA Nations League and later missed the training session ahead of the match against Denmark before leaving the Portuguese camp.
The episode adds to a long list of moments of frustration that have marked the superstar’s career. Could this latest incident ultimately determine his future with the Portugal national team?
WHEN CRISTIANO WALKS AWAY
Leaving the Portugal camp is not the first time Cristiano Ronaldo has walked away from a football setting.
In March 2021, during Portugal’s 2-2 draw against Serbia, the Portuguese captain at the time exploded after a late goal was not awarded to him. Ronaldo threw his captain’s armband onto the pitch and walked toward the dressing room before the final whistle.
The incident later led to a charitable gesture: the armband was auctioned to raise money for the treatment of a Serbian baby.
Something similar happened at Juventus in November 2019. After being substituted by Maurizio Sarri against AC Milan, Ronaldo left the pitch and headed toward the dressing room. According to reports at the time, he allegedly left the stadium before the match had ended.
His departure from Manchester United was also abrupt in 2022. Following an interview with Piers Morgan in which he criticized the club, manager Erik ten Hag and other members of the organization, Manchester United announced that his contract had been terminated “by mutual agreement.”
In February 2026, another chapter emerged during his time at Al-Nassr. Ronaldo was left out of the squad for the match against Al-Riyadh amid reports that he had refused to play because of his dissatisfaction with the club’s sporting management and differences in investment compared with other teams in the league.
At the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Cristiano Ronaldo experienced one of the most painful moments of his career. After Portugal were eliminated by Morocco in the quarterfinals, he left the pitch alone and ahead of his teammates, visibly affected by the defeat. He was later filmed crying as he headed toward the dressing room. The image became one of the most memorable moments of that World Cup.
Now, in 2026, another episode has emerged with the national team. Ronaldo did not play a single minute in Portugal’s 2-1 victory over Norway, despite warming up during the match. He subsequently missed the training session ahead of the game against Denmark before ultimately leaving the Portugal camp.
Jorge Jesus denied that there had been a falling-out with the forward, while Ronaldo announced that he would explain the reasons for his decision “in due time.”
WHEN ANGER TAKES OVER CRISTIANO RONALDO
One of the most memorable incidents took place during a Real Madrid training session in 2016. After Danilo nutmegged Ronaldo during a rondo and Marcelo laughed at the play, Ronaldo reacted angrily and eventually kicked a ball toward the area where members of the media were standing.
He also had a notable moment of frustration with Zinedine Zidane. During a match against Las Palmas in September 2016, the manager decided to substitute Ronaldo with Real Madrid leading 2-1.
Ronaldo left the pitch visibly annoyed and continued to show his frustration on the bench. Zidane later explained that the Portuguese forward always wanted to remain on the pitch and that his reaction was a reflection of his competitive character.
With the Portugal national team, he also had a memorable incident involving Nani. During a 2010 friendly against Spain, Ronaldo produced an extraordinary chip that beat Iker Casillas, but Nani touched the ball on the goal line and the play was ruled out for offside.
Nani later acknowledged that he apologized to Ronaldo for intervening in the play.
In 2015, Ronaldo also abruptly walked out of an interview with CNN’s Andrés Oppenheimer. The Portuguese star became frustrated when the questions shifted toward more political topics.
FIGHTS, SNUBS AND PROTESTS THAT DEFINED HIS CAREER
Cristiano Ronaldo’s disagreements have not been limited to managers or referees. During his time at Real Madrid, he repeatedly showed his frustration with refereeing decisions and substitutions.
In the Champions League, his gestures of protest and complaints became a familiar sight whenever he felt he had not been awarded a foul or received a favorable decision.
In 2016, in addition to the incident involving Zidane, Ronaldo also showed his frustration with whistles from some supporters at the Santiago Bernabéu. After the draw against Eibar, cameras captured the Portuguese star visibly frustrated as he headed back toward the dressing room.
There was also a moment involving Bruno Fernandes that made headlines ahead of the 2022 World Cup. A handshake between the two players at the Portugal camp was interpreted by some media outlets as a cold exchange following Ronaldo’s controversial interview criticizing Manchester United.
However, João Mário explained that it was simply a joke between the two players and dismissed the idea that there was a conflict.
Another chapter involved Ronaldo’s relationship with the Real Madrid fan base. After winning his fifth Ballon d’Or, the Portuguese star expressed his frustration with the boos he received at the Bernabéu and called for greater recognition of his achievements at the club.
Although these incidents have different explanations, one pattern has remained throughout Ronaldo’s career: when he feels that a sporting, refereeing or personal decision has affected his expectations, he often makes his frustration visible.
Sometimes it has been through gestures, other times through arguments, and in the most extreme cases, his reactions have ended with him leaving the pitch, the stadium or even a national team camp.
THE LATEST CHAPTER WITH PORTUGAL
The latest incident has a different context, but it has once again placed Cristiano Ronaldo under the spotlight.
After not playing against Norway, the forward subsequently missed a training session and left the Portugal camp after speaking with Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proença.
Jorge Jesus denied that there was a conflict with his captain and maintained that the decision not to use him against Norway was purely a footballing decision.
Ronaldo, meanwhile, confirmed his departure in a social media post and said that he would explain the reasons for his decision “in due time.”
The chapter is far from over, but it has once again brought a familiar aspect of Cristiano Ronaldo’s fiercely competitive personality into the spotlight: when things do not go as expected, his gestures and reactions quickly become news.
KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM CRISTIANO RONALDO’S TANTRUMS
- HE LEFT THE PORTUGAL CAMP: Cristiano Ronaldo left the national team camp after not playing against Norway during the first international break following the 2026 World Cup and missing the training session ahead of the match against Denmark.
- A HISTORY OF FRUSTRATION: The Portuguese star has been involved in incidents including throwing his captain’s armband against Serbia, leaving early during his time at Juventus and reacting angrily to substitutions.
- SNUBS AND CONFRONTATIONS: His frustrations have also involved managers, teammates, referees and fans, producing several moments that went viral throughout his career.
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