According to a report by Daily Post on Wednesday November 11, 2026, former Netherlands international Wesley Sneijder has criticised Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus over his treatment of Cristiano Ronaldo during a UEFA Nations League encounter against Croatia.

Sneijder believes the Portuguese manager disrespected the legendary forward by asking him to warm up before ultimately deciding not to introduce him as a substitute.

The former Inter Milan midfielder argued that Jesus should have handled the situation differently, insisting that a player of Ronaldo's stature deserved better communication from his national team coach.

The incident reportedly occurred during Portugal's Nations League match against Croatia, when Ronaldo was asked to warm up but was eventually left on the bench.

According to Daily Post, the situation angered the former Manchester United and Real Madrid forward, who subsequently left the Portugal national team camp.

Ronaldo has recently announced his retirement from international football, bringing an extraordinary chapter of his career with the Portuguese national team to an end.

Reacting to the incident, Sneijder did not hide his disappointment with the way Jesus handled the situation.

"Cristiano Ronaldo has been disrespected by Portugal!" the former Netherlands midfielder said.

He further insisted that the Portugal manager should never have allowed the situation to happen, particularly considering Ronaldo's status and contribution to the national team.

"He [Jorge Jesus] should have never let this moment [Ronaldo warming up and getting benched again] happen.

"You can't let this happen with a player like Cristiano Ronaldo," Sneijder added.

The former Netherlands international also explained how he believed Jesus should have approached the situation if he had already decided against using Ronaldo during the match.

According to Sneijder, the manager should have spoken to the five-time Ballon d'Or winner privately before the game and explained his decision.

He suggested that Jesus should have been straightforward with the veteran forward rather than asking him to warm up when he had no intention of bringing him onto the pitch.

"He should have sat down with Cristiano before the games took place and tell him: 'Listen, I actually prefer not to play you.' At least be honest," Sneijder stated.

Sneijder's criticism suggests that his major concern is not necessarily Jesus' decision to leave Ronaldo on the bench but the manner in which the situation was handled.

Although managers have the authority to decide their starting line-ups and substitutions, the former Netherlands midfielder believes clear communication is particularly important when dealing with experienced players who have contributed significantly to their countries.

Ronaldo remains one of the most influential figures in Portuguese football history. He has enjoyed an extraordinary international career, becoming the country's all-time leading goalscorer and helping Portugal win the 2016 European Championship and the 2019 UEFA Nations League.

His achievements have made him an important figure in the country's football history, which partly explains why his treatment during his final days with the national team has attracted attention.

However, Ronaldo's reputation and achievements do not automatically guarantee him a place in the starting line-up or an appearance as a substitute. The coach remains responsible for making selection decisions based on his footballing plans.

Nevertheless, Sneijder believes Jesus should have shown greater consideration in communicating his decision to the Portuguese captain.