Former Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel has criticised Cristiano Ronaldo for leaving Portugal’s national team camp following a disagreement with head coach Jorge Jesus, saying the decision undermined the example the football star has set for others.
Speaking on his ObiOne Podcast, the former Chelsea midfielder said Ronaldo should not have walked away from the national team, particularly given his position as captain and role model to younger players.
“The last thing you will do is to walk out of your national team or your football club as a captain, as someone everybody looks up to. It just takes away everything you stand for. I don’t care what deal he had with the manager or not,” Mikel said.
Ronaldo reportedly left Portugal’s camp during the recent international break after being dropped for the UEFA Nations League fixture against Norway. The Al-Nassr forward subsequently accused Jesus of breaking promises regarding his playing time and failing to show him proper respect.
However, Mikel defended the Portuguese coach, arguing that a manager’s primary responsibility is to win matches rather than guarantee playing time to individual players.
“A manager is there to win football matches. And they won football matches without you,” he said, adding that Ronaldo’s actions had tarnished his legacy to some extent.
Despite his criticism, Mikel acknowledged Ronaldo’s immense contributions to football and insisted that the five-time Ballon d’Or winner deserves to be celebrated as his career approaches its later stages.
“We should be celebrating Cristiano Ronaldo now towards the end of his career. We shouldn’t be talking about this. He’s given so much to football. Even if you are not a Cristiano Ronaldo fan, you cannot deny what he’s done for the game,” he added.
Ronaldo has since apologised to his teammates and supporters for leaving the camp and acknowledged that his actions could attract disciplinary sanctions. The Portuguese Football Federation has initiated disciplinary proceedings against the forward.
The incident has sparked debate among football fans over leadership, discipline and the responsibilities that come with wearing the captain’s armband.
Despite the controversy, Ronaldo has reiterated his willingness to continue representing Portugal after serving any punishment imposed by the federation.
