Cristiano Ronaldo has been included in Portugal’s squad for the upcoming Nations League fixtures, the first squad named by new head coach Jorge Jesus. The call-up settles, at least for now, questions about Ronaldo’s international future after Portugal’s round-of-16 exit from the 2026 World Cup, which Ronaldo had already called his last tournament.
Cristiano Ronaldo isn’t done with international football just yet — at least not according to Portugal’s brand-new head coach.
A Fresh Chapter Under Jorge Jesus
Jorge Jesus, hired to replace Spaniard Roberto Martínez after Portugal’s 1-0 World Cup round-of-16 loss to Spain, has named Ronaldo in his first official squad, putting to rest any immediate uncertainty over the 41-year-old’s international future.
Football transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano confirmed the news on X: “Cristiano Ronaldo will continue with Portugal national team! He’s been called up for the upcoming games by new head coach Jorge Jesus.”
Ronaldo said this past summer’s World Cup would be his last, but he has yet to formally announce his retirement from international football. He’ll be 43 by the time the next major tournament, the 2028 European Championship, rolls around — meaning this call-up may be part of a longer runway than fans initially expected.
Jesus’s own history with Ronaldo runs deeper than a first squad selection. The 72-year-old previously coached Ronaldo at Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, where the pair won the league together last season. Jesus has also coached several major Portuguese clubs, including Benfica and Sporting Lisbon, giving him a well-established résumé heading into this new role.
Why Ronaldo’s Inclusion Matters
Ronaldo remains Portugal’s all-time leading goalscorer and most-capped player, and he’s the all-time leading scorer in men’s international soccer history with 146 goals. His crowning achievement with the national team came in 2016, when Portugal won the European Championship. For Jesus, having Ronaldo available from day one means starting his tenure with one of the most experienced and decorated players in the sport’s history already inside the squad.
The Fixtures Ahead
Portugal opens its 2026/27 UEFA Nations League campaign on September 24 by hosting Wales. Four days later, on September 27, the team travels to face Norway, followed by an away match against Denmark on October 1 and a home fixture against Norway on October 4. The group stage wraps up with a trip to Denmark on November 14 and a final away match against Wales on November 17.
Portugal sits in League A, Group 4, alongside Wales, Norway, and Denmark.
Note: the reported fixture list shows Portugal facing Denmark away in both October and November, with no listed home match against them — worth double-checking against the official UEFA schedule before publishing, as Nations League groups typically include one home and one away fixture per opponent.
The Full Squad
Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa, Rui Silva, Samuel Soares
Defence: João Cancelo, Diogo Dalot, Rúben Dias, Tomás Araújo, Renato Veiga, Gonçalo Inácio, Nuno Mendes, Nuno Tavares
Midfield: João Palhinha, Rúben Neves, Vitinha, João Neves, Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes
Attack: Francisco Conceição, Francisco Trincão, Rafael Leão, Pedro Neto, João Félix, Cristiano Ronaldo, Gonçalo Ramos, Fábio Silva
