New Portugal manager Jorge Jesus has named his first squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures, including 41-year-old captain Cristiano Ronaldo in his 25-man selection. The decision comes following Portugal’s 1-0 round-of-16 exit to eventual champions Spain at the World Cup, a defeat that prompted the departure of former manager Roberto Martinez. Jesus, the 72-year-old former Benfica, Sporting Lisbon, and Al-Nassr manager who won the Saudi league title alongside Ronaldo last season, made it clear that the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s place in the national team will be dictated strictly by form rather than legacy.
Addressing the inclusion of men’s international football’s leading all-time scorer—who currently holds 146 goals for his country—Jesus emphasized that past achievements will not guarantee playing time during his tenure. The new head coach stated directly that performance is what matters and that the past does not count, framing Ronaldo’s ongoing role as one that must be earned on the pitch. Jesus also observed that Ronaldo is more likely to score his thousandth career goal for Al-Nassr than for the national team. The 25-man group features four new players who were not part of the recent World Cup squad, alongside a goalkeeper contingent consisting of Diogo Costa of Porto, Rui Silva of Sporting, and Samuel Soares of Benfica.
Ronaldo’s selection arrives amid heightened speculation regarding the final chapter of his career. The veteran forward, whose international highlight remains captaining Portugal to victory at Euro 2016, previously confirmed that the summer World Cup was his final appearance at the global tournament. In a recent interview, Ronaldo dropped further hints regarding his retirement, admitting that the current season is likely his last year in professional football and expressing a desire to leave a spectacular legacy. Although he will turn 42 before next summer’s Nations League finals and 43 by Euro 2028, the iconic attacker has yet to announce a formal retirement date from international football.
Portugal will open their Nations League campaign on September 24 when they host Wales in Lisbon. The squad faces a demanding schedule immediately following their opener, traveling to face Norway three days later on September 27 before visiting Denmark on October 1. The four-match sequence concludes on October 4 with a home fixture against Norway. As Jesus begins his rebuilding process with four new call-ups in the squad, Portugal’s focus turns to navigating their group stage while managing the final stretch of their long-serving captain’s international journey.
