Jorge Jesus Signals Open Door for Cristiano Ronaldo’s Return to Portugal

Jorge Jesus, the newly appointed Portuguese coach, emphasized that age is not a limiting factor in his decision to retain 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo in the national team.

The 71-year-old insider signed a four-year contract on Friday, committing to lead Portugal through the 2030 World Cup.

He replaced Roberto Martinez, whose contract expired following Portugal’s 1-0 loss to Spain in the World Cup round of 16.

Jesus had prior experience working with Ronaldo during his tenure at Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League.

“I’m 71, but I feel 50 because I’m healthy. I train every day—an hour or two. It’s going to be a tough challenge, but I’m convinced we’ll win,” Jesus stated at Portugal’s Football Federation headquarters in Lisbon.

“Age doesn’t matter. Look at Cris. Under me, he used to cover 8 kilometers per match, reaching speeds above 25 kilometers per hour.”

While Ronaldo announced his retirement from World Cup play, he left the door open for potential future participation with Portugal. As the nation’s all-time leading scorer (146 goals in 233 caps), he joined Lionel Messi as the only male players to compete in six World Cups.

Despite scoring three goals in the 2026 tournament, Ronaldo faced criticism from fans disheartened by Portugal’s exit.

“I haven’t spoken to Cris yet. He will never be a problem for the national team or for me,” Jesus remarked. “Everyone has their own perspective on the controversy.”

“When decisions need to be made, I’ll speak with Cris and others individually. Cris is a national symbol. He will be remembered in history. It’s been a pleasure working with him—he’s very cooperative.”

“I need to discuss his intentions. He has consistently stated he wants to conclude his career at Al Nassr. If he’s eligible for a call-up, I’ll consider it.”

Source link