Cristiano Ronaldo has been officially included in new head coach Jorge Jesus’ inaugural 25-man squad for Portugal’s upcoming UEFA Nations League campaign, putting an end to intense speculation surrounding the 41-year-old forward’s international future.
Uncertainty had mounted after Portugal suffered a round-of-16 exit to Spain at the World Cup in July. Following that emotional loss, Ronaldo had declined to immediately clarify his international career, stating he needed time to confer with his family before making a decision. However, Jesus, who worked with Ronaldo at Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr last season before replacing Roberto Martínez as national team manager, selected the veteran star as a key figure in his squad as Portugal prepares for four Nations League fixtures between late September and early October.
Ronaldo had hinted before last summer’s tournament that the World Cup would likely be his last, and he recently noted in an interview that his active playing career was nearing its final chapter. Nevertheless, his inclusion by Jesus confirms that the five-time Ballon d’Or winner will continue adding to his record-breaking tally of 146 goals in 233 international appearances.
Addressing Ronaldo’s standing in the national setup during his squad announcement, Jesus made it clear that while Ronaldo carries legendary status, performance will dictate match selection.
“All the called-up players are at my disposal. If he performs well, he plays. If he doesn’t perform well, he doesn’t play. That’s how I treat everyone. Now, does Cris have a different status? Yes. His career is different—he has five Ballon d’Or awards. But does that influence my decisions? No. It doesn’t influence anything, zero, but he is different from the others.”
Alongside Ronaldo, the squad retains a formidable core of talent, including Premier League stars Diogo Dalot and Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United, Manchester City defender Rúben Dias, and Chelsea forward Pedro Neto. Jesus has also brought fresh faces into the fold, recalling Borussia Dortmund forward Fábio Silva for the first time since 2024 and handing a recall to Benfica midfielder João Palhinha.
Portugal will begin their Nations League fixtures with a home encounter against Wales in Lisbon before traveling for back-to-back away matches against Norway and Denmark, followed by a return fixture against Norway.
