‘He’ll decide when to end his national team career’ — Coach
Portugal coach Jorge Jesus has thrown the door open for Cristiano Ronaldo to return to the national team, saying the veteran forward can be recalled whenever he decides he wants to play again.
Jesus made the declaration after Portugal’s 2-1 victory over Norway, amid renewed uncertainty over Ronaldo’s international future following his abrupt departure from the national team camp.
The coach, who previously worked with Ronaldo at Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, said the 41-year-old remains eligible for selection and that the final decision rests with the player.
“For me, Cris, in the next call-up, if he’s playing at Al-Nassr, he’ll be a player who can be called up,” Jesus said.
“If he wants to, he’ll return to the national team.”
Jesus said he was also prepared to speak with Ronaldo before the next international window, just as they had done before the latest squad was announced.
“If he wants to, as we did before this call-up, we talked before the call-up; we can talk before the next call-up,” he said.
“But Cris is the one who’s going to decide.”
The latest controversy followed a disagreement over Ronaldo’s involvement in Portugal’s Nations League campaign.
Ronaldo started Portugal’s opening match against Wales on September 24 but was substituted during the game.
Four days later, he was named among the substitutes for the 2-1 victory over Norway and remained on the bench throughout the match.
Jesus later explained that he had considered introducing Ronaldo for about 30 minutes but changed his plans as the game progressed.
Tension increased ahead of Portugal’s subsequent clash with Denmark when Jesus told reporters that Ronaldo would not start the match, although he denied reports of a serious rift between the pair.
Ronaldo arrived at Copenhagen’s Parken Stadium with the squad but did not take part in training with his teammates.
The Portuguese Football Federation subsequently confirmed that the forward had left the training camp.
Ronaldo later announced on social media that he had decided to leave following Jesus’ press conference and a conversation with Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proença.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner said he would explain the circumstances surrounding his decision “in due course”, while wishing Portugal and his teammates well.
Portugal subsequently defeated Denmark 4-2 without Ronaldo before beating Norway 2-1 to maintain its perfect Nations League record and secure qualification for the quarter-finals.
The development has once again raised questions over whether Ronaldo has played his final match for Portugal, particularly after he previously suggested that 2026 would “probably” be his final year in professional football.
However, Ronaldo has consistently maintained that he would personally decide when to end his international career.
“I will retire when I want, not when you want,” he had said following the last World Cup amid calls for him to quit international football.
His then partner and now wife, Georgina Rodríguez, also publicly defended the Portuguese star during that period, while his supporters rallied behind him.
Ronaldo subsequently continued playing for Portugal and remains the country’s all-time leading goalscorer and most-capped player, with 146 goals in 234 international appearances.
Jesus has now made it clear that Ronaldo’s latest departure does not necessarily signal the end of his international career.
“Cristiano should end his time in the national team the way he wants; he’s the one who will decide how he wants it,” Jesus said.
“That’s how we talked, the two of us. I said, ‘I need you’. In my first call-up, I said, ‘I need you, I need you to be close to me, playing or not playing, I need you’. And now I’m saying the same thing.”
Portugal midfielder Bruno Fernandes has also dismissed suggestions of divisions within the squad over Ronaldo.
“There are no divisions in the national team. It is one and will remain so, despite any noise that may come from outside,” Fernandes said.
Fernandes described Ronaldo as the biggest icon of Portuguese football and called for respect for the veteran forward.
The Portuguese Football Federation president has also indicated that Ronaldo remains part of the team’s plans, describing the episode as a misunderstanding and stressing that selection should be based on sporting considerations.
For now, however, the decision remains with Ronaldo.
Portugal’s next Nations League fixtures are scheduled against Denmark on November 14 and Wales on November 17, potentially giving Jesus an opportunity to welcome the veteran forward back if he chooses to return.
After more than two decades in Portugal colours, Ronaldo’s international future once again rests in his own hands.
