​Portugal appointed Jorge Jesus as their new national team coach on Friday, and he made clear that he intends to continue calling on veteran superstar Cristiano Ronaldo whenever he is available, stressing that the forward will “never” be a problem for the squad. The 41-year-old striker faced criticism for his performances at this summer’s World Cup under his former boss, Roberto Martínez, as Portugal exited in the Round of 16 at the hands of Spain. Ronaldo, who has signaled that this World Cup could be his last, has not yet decided whether he will keep playing for Portugal.
As long as Ronaldo is still playing and in a condition to be selected, Jesus said he would include him, with some caveats and under conditions that he deems best for the national team. Speaking to reporters at his presentation, the new Portugal coach emphasized that Ronaldo would not be a source of tension for the team, nor for him personally. “I haven’t spoken with Cris yet… Cris is never going to be a problem for the national team. Not for the national team, nor for me,” Jesus stated. He paid tribute to Ronaldo’s status, calling him “a symbol of Portuguese football” and “a symbol of the national team” whose name will “forever be in the history books.”
Jesus noted the easy working relationship he enjoyed with Ronaldo during their time together, describing him as someone with whom it is simple to collaborate. “Cris is a symbol of the national team… that will forever be in the history books. I had great pleasure working with him this past year… (it’s) easy to work with him.” He added that the two of them would have a conversation about Ronaldo’s future ambitions and how they fit into the long-term plans for his career.
The former Al-Nassr coach, who led Ronaldo during their time together at the Saudi club, mentioned that Ronaldo has consistently expressed a desire to continue playing at Al-Nassr. “I know [Ronaldo] wants to keep playing at Al-Nassr, because, as you know, I spent a year with him,” Jesus recalled. He quoted Ronaldo as telling him that he plans to end his career at Al-Nassr, reinforcing the sense of a clear, ongoing chapter for the veteran forward.
Looking ahead, Jesus will oversee Portugal’s preparations through World Cup qualifying cycles and beyond, with the aim of guiding the team through the 2030 World Cup, which Portugal will co-host with Spain and Morocco. His appointment signals a commitment to stability and continuity for the national team as it seeks to build on its recent foundations while navigating Ronaldo’s evolving role. Jesus is expected to lead the squad through an extended period, including the 2030 tournament, as Portugal eyes strong performances on the world stage.