Cristiano Ronaldo has never been a player short on personality, and his latest episode with Portugal manager Jorge Jesus has once again put his relationship with managers under the spotlight.
Ronaldo left Portugal's training camp after being left on the bench for the entire 2-1 win over Norway, having reportedly been unhappy with the decision. Jesus subsequently insisted there was no major rift, but Ronaldo announced that he had decided to leave camp and would reveal the reasons behind his decision later.
It is hardly the first time Ronaldo has clashed with a manager. Throughout his career, his enormous status and relentless competitive mentality have occasionally brought him into conflict with those in charge.
Here is a look at Ronaldo's biggest manager fall-outs.
Jose Mourinho
Ronaldo's relationship with Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid was complicated almost from the beginning.
Both men possessed enormous personalities, and Mourinho reportedly became concerned about Ronaldo's influence within the dressing room. Their disagreements included tactical issues, with Mourinho at one point communicating instructions to Ronaldo through an assistant rather than directly.
The relationship eventually exploded during the 2012-13 season. After Real Madrid defeated Valencia 2-0, Mourinho publicly criticised Ronaldo for failing to track back. Their relationship never fully recovered, with Mourinho leaving Madrid at the end of that season.
Rafael Benitez
Ronaldo was reportedly unhappy when Rafael Benitez replaced Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid in 2015.
The Portuguese superstar had enjoyed a strong relationship with Ancelotti and was not particularly impressed with Benitez's tactical approach. Ronaldo even publicly praised his former manager, describing Ancelotti as an “unbelievable person” and a “fantastic coach”.
Benitez attempted to play down the situation, saying the pair were still adapting to each other. However, his Madrid tenure lasted only until January 2016.
Ralf Rangnick
Ronaldo's return to Manchester United produced another memorable confrontation, this time with interim manager Ralf Rangnick.
During a 2-0 win at Brentford, Rangnick decided to change formation and substitute Ronaldo. The decision clearly frustrated the forward, who threw his coat to the ground as he came off.
Rangnick subsequently tried to minimise the incident, but reports later suggested there were further tensions, including disagreement over Ronaldo's desire to become Manchester United captain ahead of Harry Maguire.
Erik ten Hag
Perhaps Ronaldo's most damaging managerial fallout came under Erik ten Hag.
After scoring 18 Premier League goals during his first season back at United, Ronaldo's relationship with the club deteriorated badly during the following campaign. In October 2022, he refused to come on as a substitute against Tottenham and walked down the tunnel before the final whistle.
The situation eventually culminated in his infamous interview with Piers Morgan, where Ronaldo said he did not respect Ten Hag and claimed he had been betrayed by the club.
Manchester United subsequently terminated his contract, bringing his second spell at Old Trafford to an abrupt end.
Fernando Santos
Ronaldo's relationship with Portugal manager Fernando Santos also came under serious pressure during the 2022 World Cup.
Santos dropped Ronaldo to the bench for the knockout match against Switzerland, bringing him on in the 73rd minute. Portugal went on to win 6-1, with Gonçalo Ramos scoring a hat-trick after replacing Ronaldo in the starting XI.
Ronaldo's family publicly criticised the decision, with Georgina Rodríguez expressing her disappointment on social media. Santos and Ronaldo's relationship subsequently deteriorated, and the manager's decision became one of the defining moments of Ronaldo's final World Cup campaign.
Jorge Jesus: The Latest Chapter
Now, Jorge Jesus has become the latest manager caught up in the Ronaldo storm.
The irony is that Jesus previously worked with Ronaldo at Al-Nassr, making the current situation particularly intriguing. Ronaldo's decision to leave Portugal's camp after being left unused against Norway has raised fresh questions about his future with the national team.
Whether this becomes another permanent rupture or simply another chapter in Ronaldo's long history of managerial disagreements remains to be seen. One thing, however, is certain: wherever Ronaldo's extraordinary career has taken him, managing the biggest personality in the dressing room has never been a simple task.