Cristiano Ronaldo name dey inside first squad wey new Portugal coach Jorge Jesus pick, and dat one end di talk say di 41-year-old fit retire from international football.
Ronaldo no gree confirm whether he go continue to play for him country after Portugal lose for World Cup round-of-16 to Spain, wey later win di tournament, for July.
But di Al-Nassr forward dey among 25-man group wey dem choose for Portugal four Nations League games between 24 September and 4 October.
Jesus don replace Roberto Martinez, who step down as Portugal coach after dem World Cup exit. Di 72-year-old na Ronaldo club boss last season, wen di pair help Al-Nassr win di Saudi Pro League for di first time in seven years.
Di former Manchester United and Real Madrid forward, who announce say dis summer World Cup go be him last, cry after Portugal World Cup exit. Wen dem ask if he go keep playing for him country, he talk say: “I will meet the family and take decisions with a calm head.” Dis one spark speculation say he fit follow him great rival Lionel Messi and retire from international football.
Ronaldo go turn 42 before next summer Nations League finals and go be 43 by Euro 2028. Di oldest player for di history of di Euros na Ronaldo former Portugal team-mate Pepe, who be 41 and 130 days for him last game for Euro 2024.
Manchester United pair Diogo Dalot and Bruno Fernandes also dey inside di squad, along with Ruben Dias (Manchester City) and Pedro Neto (Chelsea). Portugal dey home to Wales on 24 September (19:45 BST) and away to Norway three days later. Dem go then play for Denmark on 1 October and return home to host Norway on 4 October.
LISBON, Portugal — Cristiano Ronaldo dey included for Portugal squad by new coach Jorge Jesus for dem upcoming Nations League games on Friday. Ronaldo, 41, talk say dis summer World Cup na him last, but di global star never talk wen he plan to retire from international play. He go be 43 by di time 2028 European Championship, di next major tournament, hold.
Dis na di first squad wey Jesus name, and dem hire am to replace Spaniard Roberto Martinez after Portugal lose 1-0 to Spain for di round of 16 of di World Cup. Jesus previous coaching job na with Ronaldo club Al-Nassr for Saudi Arabia, where dem win di league together last season. Jesus, 72, don also coach several Portuguese clubs, including Benfica and Sporting Lisbon.
Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d'Or winner, na di leading scorer for men international soccer with 146 goals. Him greatest achievement with Portugal na to help dem win di 2016 Euros.
Portugal go open di Nations League by hosting Wales on Sept. 24. Dem play Norway away three days later and then for Denmark on Oct. 1, before hosting Norway on Oct. 4.
Jorge Jesus, who replace Roberto Martínez as head coach after di 2026 World Cup, dey prepare for him first UEFA Nations League games. Di Portuguese coach, whose team go face Wales at home before visiting Norway and Denmark, don announce him squad for di season first international break.
There were no major surprises and only five changes from di World Cup squad, with Cristiano Ronaldo retaining him place for Portugal. At 41 and chasing 1,000 career goals, di Al Nassr forward appear determined to defy him age, di passage of time and di demands of international soccer, once again putting himself for di heart of him country ambitions. He also dey close in on 250 appearances for Portugal. Ronaldo don score 979 career goals, and Jesus still want him leading di attack as he continues to set him sights high.
Although di forward don hint say retirement dey approach, di possibility of scoring him 1,000th goal for Portugal fit provide extra motivation to keep playing – and for di coach to keep selecting him.
“What matters is his performance. The past doesn’t count. Performance is what will determine the decisions I make in training and in matches. There are 13 players in this squad who have worked with me before. I don’t have a fixed squad, so within that framework, several players have been important in shaping this roster. Cris is a player like everyone else. If he performs, he plays; if he doesn’t, he doesn’t. He has a different status, he has five Ballon d’Or awards, but does that influence my decisions? No. Is he different? Yes, of course he is,” Jesus talk about Ronaldo.
Portugal don also largely maintain continuity with di players who stand out before di World Cup, although Jesus don make changes in goal, defense, midfield and attack for him first squad since international soccer resume.
Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa (Porto), Rui Silva (Sporting CP), Samuel Soares (Benfica) Defenders: João Cancelo (Barcelona), Diogo Dalot (Manchester United), Rúben Dias (Manchester City), Tomás Araújo (Benfica), Renato Veiga (Villarreal), Gonçalo Inácio (Sporting CP), Nuno Mendes (PSG), Nuno Tavares (Lazio) Midfielders: João Palhinha (Benfica), Rúben Neves (Al Hilal), Vitinha (PSG), João Neves (PSG), Bernardo Silva (Real Madrid), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) Forwards: Francisco Trincão (Al Ahli), Francisco Conceição (Juventus), Rafael Leão (Galatasaray), Pedro Neto (Chelsea), João Félix (Al Nassr), Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr), Gonçalo Ramos (Milan), Fábio Silva (Borussia Dortmund)
