In his first press conference, newly appointed Portugal coach Jorge Jesus stated that star player Cristiano Ronaldo remains a viable option for the national team.
Despite scoring three goals in the recent World Cup, Ronaldo could not lead Portugal beyond the round of 16. Following Portugal’s elimination by Spain, the 41-year-old announced his retirement from World Cup competition but kept the door open for future national team appearances.
Jesus, who signed a four-year contract with the Portuguese Football Federation that extends to the 2030 World Cup, expressed his interest in bringing Ronaldo back into the fold.
“I haven’t yet spoken to Cris, but he knows he’s never been a problem for me or the national team,” said Jesus. “When it’s time to decide, I will consult with him and the other players individually. Cris is an icon for our country and his legacy is undeniable. It has been a privilege to work with him, and he is simply great to collaborate with.”
Jesus emphasized the importance of engaging with Ronaldo regarding his future intentions. “Cris has shared his desire to finish his career at Al Nassr, but if he is ready to return, I will certainly call him up,” he added.
The 71-year-old coach was officially presented at the Portugal Football Federation (FPF) in Lisbon. “I may be 71, but I feel like I’m 50. I am healthy and train every day. This will be a challenging journey, but I have confidence that we will achieve success,” he stated.
“Age is just a number; look at Cris. When he played under my guidance, he covered up to 8 kilometers per match and hit speeds exceeding 25 km/h. I made decisions regarding his playing time based on the match context, including leaving him off the bench at times.”
He noted that Ronaldo participated in 31 of the 50 matches last year, with Jesus substituting him 16 times without any complications. “I have an advantage moving forward as many of the players called up for the World Cup have experience working with me,” he added.
Jesus replaces Roberto Martínez, whose contract expired following Portugal’s World Cup exit. He previously left Al Nassr in May, after successfully leading the team to the Saudi Pro League championship.
Excited for his first venture with a national team after 36 years of coaching, Jesus remarked, “Today we embark on a new journey. Welcome to the national team, Mr. Jorge Jesus,” the Portugal federation declared in an official statement.
Jorge Jesus fulfills the criteria set forth by the FPF and has prior coaching experience with stars like Cristiano Ronaldo and João Félix at Al Nassr.
He has expertise in Portuguese football, having led 11 clubs in the country, including Benfica, where he secured 10 titles.
Additionally, he is recognized as the most successful coach in Flamengo’s history, attaining five major trophies from June 2019 to July 2020. Most recently, he led Al Hilal to a domestic treble in the 2023-24 season.
– Who is playing at the 2026 World Cup today? Schedules and viewing options in the UK
– ‘Frustrated’ Bruno Fernandes reacts to Portugal’s World Cup exit
– So, has Ronaldo’s World Cup era ended? Insights and reflections
The urgency to appoint a new manager stemmed from Portugal’s quick exit from the World Cup.
The 2025 Nations League champions were unable to showcase their best performance and were eliminated from contention after losing 1-0 to Spain.
Jorge Jesus will make his debut as the new head coach on September 24, facing Wales in the opening match of the Nations League Group D.
On Friday, Jesus expressed: “I’ve had the privilege of coaching two of the three best players in the world—Ronaldo at Al Nassr and Neymar at Al Hilal—but I’m not in pursuit of the third, Lionel Messi. I told Neymar: ‘It’s time to wrap it up.'”
“I am immensely proud to represent my country and to have been given this opportunity. I am now entrusted with coaching one of the best national teams globally, my own homeland. It is an honor to support the pride of 11 million Portuguese people who have inspired me during the World Cup.”