The Saudi newspaper Al-Wiam reported that Cristiano Ronaldo nominated Al-Nassr’s current coach, Jorge Jesus, to coach the Portuguese national team after the 2026 World Cup.
Roberto Martinez is expected to leave his position as coach of the Sailors (Portugal) next July, and the Portuguese Football Federation has already begun searching for a successor to the Spanish coach.
As expected, Ronaldo is involved in the selection of Portugal’s next coach and has chosen Jesus, who has extensive experience in Portuguese and international football.
The 70-year-old coach’s contract with Al-Nassr expires at the end of the current season, and it seems likely he will not continue with the club given the significant disagreements between him and the management in recent months.
Despite all the surrounding circumstances being in his favor, Jesus declined the offer to coach his country, maintaining his stance that coaching national teams in general is not the best fit for him.
This is not the first time Jesus has refused to coach a national team. In 2023, he was close to coaching the Saudi national team before backing out at the last minute.
Last summer, Jesus opted to stay with Al-Hilal instead of coaching the Brazilian national team, a decision he later regretted after being dismissed before the 2025 Club World Cup.
It’s worth noting that José Mourinho remains the most likely candidate to coach Portugal after the World Cup, while Jesus may ultimately reach an agreement to remain with Al-Nassr for another year.
