Craig Burley, the former Chelsea midfielder, has voiced his disapproval of comments made by new Portugal manager Jorge Jesus regarding Cristiano Ronaldo. Jesus recently suggested that the veteran forward remains an essential part of the squad.
Despite his status, the 41-year-old forward played almost every minute of Portugal’s 2026 World Cup campaign, scoring against Uzbekistan and Croatia. However, his limited movement during the tournament hindered the team’s offense, particularly during their round-of-16 exit against Spain. Following the tournament, Roberto Martinez stepped down as head coach, and Jesus took over.
During an appearance on ESPN FC, Burley disputed Jesus’ claim that Ronaldo is not a burden to the team. The former Chelsea player argued that Portugal needs to transition to a new era. Burley noted that the team’s failure to succeed with a 41-year-old striker was predictable, given the speed and fitness of modern international defenders. While acknowledging Ronaldo’s legendary status and record-breaking career, including his 146 goals in 233 matches, Burley stated firmly that the star’s international career should be over.
