Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus has left the door open for Cristiano Ronaldo to return to the national team after the veteran forward left the squad’s training camp following a dispute over his role in the side.
Speaking after Portugal secured their place in the Nations League quarter-finals with a victory over Norway on Sunday, Jesus said Ronaldo could be considered for the country’s next fixtures if he wishes to return.
The situation developed after Ronaldo was left on the bench for Portugal’s first meeting with Norway last week. The 41-year-old forward was then informed that he would not be included in the starting line-up for Wednesday’s match against Denmark. He subsequently left the national team camp.
Despite the disagreement, Jesus indicated that Ronaldo remains eligible for selection and that his place in the squad has not been permanently closed.
“If Chris is playing for Al-Nassr when the next squad is selected, he will certainly be considered. If he wants to, he will return to the national team,” Jesus told reporters.
The Portugal coach also said there would be an opportunity for him and Ronaldo to speak before the country’s next match in November. Jesus suggested that a conversation could help clarify the situation, while stressing that the final decision over whether to return would rest with Ronaldo himself.
“We can speak before the next match, as we did last time. But the decision has to be Chris’s,” Jesus said.
Ronaldo remains one of the most significant figures in Portuguese football. He is the country’s all-time leading goalscorer and its most-capped player, having built an international career that has made him central to Portugal’s footballing identity.
His experience has also made his role a recurring subject of discussion as the national side moves through a new phase under Jesus. After taking charge following Roberto Martinez’s departure after the 2026 World Cup, Jesus initially regarded Ronaldo as an important part of his plans and included him prominently in the team’s early matches under his leadership.
The recent disagreement, however, has raised questions about how Ronaldo’s role will develop as Portugal continues its campaign. Being left out of the starting line-up against Norway and subsequently learning that he would not start against Denmark marked a significant change from the prominent position he had previously held within the team.
Jesus’s latest comments suggest that there has been no definitive break between Ronaldo and the national side. If the forward remains available through Al-Nassr and chooses to return, Portugal will consider him when the next squad is selected.
The focus will now turn towards November, when Portugal are due to return to international action. Whether Ronaldo and Jesus hold another discussion before then, and whether the veteran forward accepts an invitation to return, will determine the next chapter of the long-running relationship between Portugal and one of the most influential players in the country’s history.
