**Ronaldo Retains Place in Portugal Squad for Nations League Under New Manager Jorge Jesus**
*Published on September 18, 2026*
Cristiano Ronaldo has been named in the 25-man squad for Portugal's upcoming Nations League matches, marking the first selection by new head coach Jorge Jesus. The announcement comes as Portugal prepares to defend its title in a series of crucial fixtures, starting with a home match against Wales on September 24.
Ronaldo, who is 41 years old, has been a pivotal figure in Portuguese football, having made his senior debut for Sporting Lisbon in 2002. Throughout his illustrious career, he has accumulated numerous accolades, including five Ballon d'Or awards and major trophies with clubs such as Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, and his current team, Al Nassr. Despite his extensive list of achievements, the FIFA World Cup title has eluded him, with Portugal's journey in the 2026 tournament cut short in the Round of 16 by Spain, the eventual champions.
In recent months, Ronaldo has sparked speculation regarding his future in football. In August, he hinted that the upcoming year could be his last as a professional player. However, he has not made any definitive statements about his international career following the 2026 World Cup, which he confirmed would be his final appearance in that competition.
Jorge Jesus, who took over as Portugal's manager in July after Roberto Martinez's resignation, emphasized the importance of performance over reputation in his squad selection. "His performance is what matters. The past doesn’t count," Jesus stated during a press conference. He acknowledged Ronaldo's legendary status but maintained that selection would be based on current form rather than past achievements. "Cris is a player like any other. If he performs, he plays; if not, he doesn’t," he added, while also recognizing Ronaldo's unique status in the football world.
Jesus's squad includes a mix of experienced players and newcomers, with 13 members having previously worked with him. The upcoming matches will be critical for Portugal as they aim to secure their position in the Nations League. Following the match against Wales, Portugal will travel to Norway on September 27 and Denmark on October 1, before hosting Norway again on October 4.
The full squad for the Nations League includes:
**Goalkeepers:**
- Diogo Costa (Porto)
- Rui Silva (Sporting)
- Samuel Soares (Benfica)
**Defenders:**
- Goncalo Inacio (Sporting)
- Joao Cancelo (Barcelona)
- Diogo Dalot (Manchester United)
- Nuno Tavares (Lazio)
- Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain)
- Renato Veiga (Villarreal)
- Ruben Dias (Manchester City)
- Tomas Araujo (Benfica)
**Midfielders:**
- Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)
- Joao Palhinha (Benfica)
- Joao Neves (Paris Saint-Germain)
- Ruben Neves (Al-Hilal)
- Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain)
- Bernardo Silva (Real Madrid)
**Forwards:**
- Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr)
- Fabio Silva (Borussia Dortmund)
- Francisco Trincao (Al-Ahli)
- Francisco Conceicao (Juventus)
- Goncalo Ramos (AC Milan)
- Joao Felix (Al-Nassr)
- Pedro Neto (Chelsea)
- Rafael Leao (Galatasaray)
As Portugal embarks on this new chapter under Jorge Jesus, the performance of veteran players like Ronaldo will be closely watched, particularly as the team seeks to build momentum in the Nations League and prepare for future international competitions.