41 and still going: Ronaldo included in Jorge Jesus’ first Portugal squad for Nations League

Lisbon: The 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo has been named in new manager Jorge Jesus’ first 25-man squad for Portugal’s upcoming UEFA Nations League title defence. The Al-Nassr forward’s inclusion confirms his international continuation following Portugal's 1-0 defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup round of 16. Jesus, who succeeded Roberto Martínez as national team head coach after guiding Ronaldo to a Saudi Pro League title with Al-Nassr last season, selected the veteran captain for an intense series of four fixtures in 11 days, beginning at home against Wales on 24 September.

Addressing Retirement Speculation and Merit

The call-up comes despite recent speculation surrounding Ronaldo's potential retirement from competitive football. The forward fuelled speculation last month by admitting during an interview with Vogue that this would probably be his final year playing, expressing a desire to leave a spectacular legacy. Addressing the veteran's role, Jesus stressed that selection decisions would remain performance-driven. Jesus noted that while Ronaldo holds distinct status due to his five Ballon d'Or awards, starting berths will strictly depend on current performance on the pitch.

Chasing Milestones for the Defending Champions

Portugal enter the campaign as defending Nations League champions, having secured their second title by defeating Spain on penalties in the 2025 final. Ronaldo remains the highest goalscorer in men’s international football history with 146 goals in 233 appearances. Jesus acknowledged Ronaldo's pursuit of 1,000 career goals, where he currently stands at 979, though the head coach remarked that the forward is more likely to reach the thousand-goal milestone in Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr than in international fixtures for Portugal.