Newly appointed Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus has emphasized that the door remains wide open for Cristiano Ronaldo to continue his international career, should the legendary striker choose not to retire from the national team.
The Seleção captain had previously announced that the 2026 World Cup would be his last appearance at the tournament for Portugal. However, he left his immediate international future ambiguous, leaving fans wondering whether he will feature in upcoming qualifiers or call time on his historic 22-year international career.
Following his appointment as Roberto Martínez’s successor, the 71-year-old tactician was immediately questioned regarding his plans for Ronaldo. “I haven’t spoken to Cristiano yet. He will never be a problem for the national team, or for me,” Jesus told reporters.
He added: “Regarding the controversy, everyone can think what they want. When I have to make a decision, I’ll talk to Cristiano and everyone else individually.”
“Cristiano is a symbol of Portugal; he will go down in history. I got great pleasure from working with him at Al-Nassr, and it is very easy to work with him. But I have to talk to him to know what he wants to do. He has always told me he wants to end his career at Al-Nassr. If I am able to call him up, I will do so,” the Portuguese manager continued.
Jesus insisted he will face no external pressure regarding Ronaldo’s selection. He cited their time together in the Saudi Pro League last season, where he substituted the five-time Ballon d’Or winner in 13 out of 30 appearances, even though the striker averaged 87 minutes per game across all competitions under his management.
Concluding his press conference, Jesus stated: “This is the case in the national team. They are all great players for the best teams in Europe who win titles. We are here to win championships, and everyone will have to pay a price. The squad possesses immense quality, and I believe in everyone. New players will emerge over the next four years, and I will now be more involved in the evolution of youth football.”
Jorge Jesus’s first official matches in charge of Portugal will take place during the UEFA Nations League. An extended international break in late September and early October will see Portugal face Norway twice, alongside fixtures against Wales and Denmark.
