**Title: Ronaldo's Future with Portugal Remains Open, Says New Coach Jorge Jesus**
Portugal's national football team has a new leader in Jorge Jesus, who has made it clear that he remains open to including Cristiano Ronaldo in the squad if the veteran forward wishes to continue his international career. Following Portugal's exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where they were eliminated in the Round of 16 by Spain, Ronaldo has expressed that he may have played his last World Cup. However, the decision on his future with the national team remains uncertain.
During his introductory press conference, Jesus emphasized that as long as Ronaldo is fit and available for selection, he will consider him for the national team. "As long as he’s playing and is in a condition to be selected, I will pick him, within certain limits and under the conditions that I consider best for the national team," the 71-year-old coach stated.
Jesus, who has previously worked with Ronaldo at Al-Nassr, noted that he has not yet had a conversation with the player regarding his future. However, he expressed confidence in Ronaldo's importance to Portuguese football, stating, "Cris is never going to be a problem for the national team. Not for the national team, nor for me." He further described Ronaldo as a "symbol of Portuguese football" and acknowledged the significant role he has played in the nation's football history.
The new coach also mentioned that he had enjoyed working with Ronaldo during their time together at Al-Nassr, where they achieved success by winning the Saudi Pro League title. "I had great pleasure working with him this past year … it’s easy to work with him," Jesus remarked.
While Ronaldo has indicated a desire to continue playing at Al-Nassr, where he has stated he intends to finish his career, the discussions about his role in the national team are expected to take place soon. Jesus expressed his intention to have a conversation with Ronaldo to better understand his aspirations moving forward.
Looking ahead, Jorge Jesus will lead the Portuguese national team through the upcoming years, including the 2030 World Cup, which Portugal will co-host alongside Spain and Morocco. The coach's approach to integrating Ronaldo into the team will likely depend on the forward's performance and fitness levels in the coming months.
As the football world watches closely, the next steps for both Ronaldo and the Portuguese national team under Jesus's guidance will be pivotal in shaping the future of Portuguese football.