Overview
- Jesus was appointed on a four-year deal to manage Portugal through to the 2030 World Cup and has publicly said he will pick Cristiano Ronaldo while the player is active and fit.
- The coach described Ronaldo as easy to work with and “a symbol of Portuguese football” and promised individual conversations with senior players before making selection decisions.
- Ronaldo has not formally retired from international football after saying the 2026 World Cup would be his last, leaving his immediate future open for tournament selection.
- Some former players and pundits, including John Arne Riise, have urged Ronaldo to stop playing for Portugal to speed a generational transition ahead of Euro 2028.
- Jesus’s choice to include Ronaldo draws on their recent title-winning work together at Al‑Nassr and raises short-term questions about tactics and squad renewal as Portugal readies to co-host the 2030 World Cup.