---
title: "\"Hard to see this\": Ronaldo's sister Elma Aveiro speaks out publicly about the scandal surrounding her brother in the Portugal national team"
description: "Cristiano Ronaldo's sister, Elma Aveiro, has spoken out publicly about the scandal surrounding her brother after he was left on the bench for the match against Norway and left the Portugal national team camp."
date: 2026-10-16T18:01:31.207Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/ronaldos-sister-elma-aveiro-defends-brother
tags: [cristiano-ronaldo, portugal-national-team, football, ronaldo-family]
author: "Dmitriy Shatolov, Andrey Kosynko"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# "Hard to see this": Ronaldo's sister Elma Aveiro speaks out publicly about the scandal surrounding her brother in the Portugal national team

![Cristiano Ronaldo smiling next to his sister Elma Aveiro](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/16/sestra-ronaldu-elma-aveyru-vystupila-v-oboronu-brata/sestra-ronaldu-elma-aveyru-vystupila-v-oboronu-brata-1.webp)

## Key Points

- Cristiano Ronaldo was left on the bench for Portugal's match against Norway and left the team camp.
- The footballer's sister, Elma Aveiro, publicly expressed dissatisfaction with the treatment of her brother.
- Aveiro stated that the Portuguese "forget what was done before" and that Ronaldo does not deserve this treatment.
- The incident sparked disputes over the captain's role in the national team and the coaching staff's decisions.

A high-profile conflict has flared up around Portugal national team captain Cristiano Ronaldo, quickly spilling beyond the football pitch to become a subject of widespread public discussion. Reports indicate that the 41-year-old forward was left on the bench for the match against Norway and subsequently left the national team's camp. The player's decision and the circumstances leading up to it sparked a fierce reaction among both fans and sports pundits, who began debating the acceptable boundaries in relations between the star captain and the coaching staff.

### Incident in the national team: the bench and leaving camp

The pivotal episode was the situation where Ronaldo was not included in the starting lineup against Norway and spent the match as a substitute. For a player of his stature and captaincy status, this alone became a talking point, and his subsequent departure from the team camp only heightened the tension. In the football world, such episodes traditionally escalate into a full-scale scandal because they touch upon not only tactical decisions by the coach, but also issues of respect, hierarchy, and the veteran's role within the squad.

### Elma Aveiro's statement: "The Portuguese forget what was done before"

His sister Elma Aveiro was the first to speak out publicly in defense of her brother. She stated that it is hard for him to see Cristiano in such a situation and that he does not deserve this kind of treatment. According to her, the Portuguese "unfortunately forget what was done before," and it is precisely this oblivion regarding the player's contribution to the national team that causes her sadness and displeasure. Aveiro emphasized that criticism directed at her brother is taken painfully by the family and urged people not to forget what Ronaldo has achieved for the national team throughout his career.

### Public resonance: a split of opinions

The incident divided the audience into several camps. Some observers discussed the coach's right to make personnel decisions and how the player reacts to being benched, while others, conversely, expressed support for Ronaldo and criticized the tone in which he is being addressed. At the center of the discussion once again were questions about the famous footballer's role in the national team, the manager's decisions, and what the attitude should be toward a player who has remained a symbol of Portuguese football for many years.

### Context: age, status, and expectations

It is important to consider the context: we are talking about a 41-year-old footballer whose status extends far beyond the current season. That is why every personnel decision concerning him is viewed through the prism of his past achievements and media weight. The scandal has once again brought to the fore the theme of the balance between the sporting logic of the coaching staff and the emotional expectations of the fans, while Elma Aveiro's statement cemented the family's position, for whom the treatment of her brother has become a personal rather than purely professional matter.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [«Это тяжело видеть»: сестра Роналду Элма Авейру недовольна отношением к ее брату – Zamin.uz, 16.10.2026](https://zamin.uz/ru/mir/224678-eto-tyazhelo-videt-sestra-ronaldu-elma-aveyru-nedovolna-otnosheniem-k-ee-bratu.html) - Primary source: Ronaldo was left on the bench for the match against Norway and left the national team camp; sister Elma Aveiro expressed dissatisfaction with the treatment of her brother.
- [«Тяжело видеть это». Сестра Роналду раскритиковала хейтеров игрока](https://www.championat.ru/football/news-6658282-u-menya-net-slov-sestra-ronaldu-raskritikovala-hejterov-igroka.html) - The footballer's age (41 years old) is indicated, along with Aveiro's quote that the Portuguese forget what was done before.
- [Сестра Роналду: «Тяжело видеть эту ситуацию»](https://tribuna.uz/ru/news/sestra-ronaldu-tyazhelo-videt-etu-situatsiyu-1387502/) - Elma Aveiro's quote: the Portuguese forget what was done before; she feels sorry for her brother.
- [Сестра Роналду вступилась за него после критики в Португалии](https://operativmm.az/ru/post/sestra-ronaldu-vstupilas-za-nego-posle-kritiki-v-portugalii/82559) - Aveiro stated that it is hard to see criticism directed at her brother and that he does not deserve such treatment.

## FAQ

### What happened to Cristiano Ronaldo in the Portugal national team?

According to reports, he was left on the bench for the match against Norway and then left the national team's camp.

### Who spoke out in defense of Ronaldo?

His sister Elma Aveiro, who publicly expressed dissatisfaction with the treatment of her brother.

### What exactly did Elma Aveiro say?

She stated that it is hard to see her brother in such a situation, that the Portuguese "forget what was done before," and that he does not deserve this treatment.

### How old is Cristiano Ronaldo at the time of the incident?

According to sources, the footballer is 41 years old.