Following his official introduction at the Portuguese Football Federation headquarters on July 10, 2026, newly installed head coach Jorge Jesus declared his intention to keep Cristiano Ronaldo in the national team fold. Despite the 41-year-old forward facing criticism for his displays during Portugal’s round-of-16 exit to Spain at this summer’s World Cup, Jesus maintains that the veteran remains a vital asset.
Jesus emphasized that Ronaldo will be considered for selection as long as he remains fit and active. Addressing the media, the 71-year-old coach stated that Ronaldo will never be a liability to the squad. While the player has not yet confirmed his international future, Jesus intends to hold private discussions with him soon.
The two men share a professional history, as Jesus managed Ronaldo at Al-Nassr during a title-winning Saudi Pro League campaign. Reflecting on their partnership, Jesus noted that Ronaldo is an iconic figure in Portuguese sports history and described him as straightforward to work with. Jesus further shared that Ronaldo has consistently expressed his desire to finish his professional career at Al-Nassr. Jorge Jesus is set to manage the national squad through the 2030 World Cup, which Portugal will co-host alongside Spain and Morocco.
