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Jesus supports his captain
The 71-year-old, who signed a four-year contract to take the nation to the 2030 World Cup, believes Ronaldo still has a lot to offer on the international stage despite his advanced age.
In statements to the media about his selection policy, Jorge Jesús was emphatic about the role of the Al-Nassr star. “As long as he is playing and is in a position to be selected, I will choose him, within limits and in the conditions that I consider best for the selection,” explained Jesús. The coach clearly values the presence of the 41-year-old, describing him as a “symbol of Portuguese football” who has immense weight in the locker room.
Building on Saudi success
The relationship between Jesús and Ronaldo is built on a solid foundation of recent successes. The pair worked closely at Al-Nassr, where they celebrated the glory of the Saudi Pro League title before Jesus moved to the national team bench.
Jesus dismissed any suggestion that managing such a high-profile figure would cause friction during his tenure. “I haven’t spoken to [Ronaldo] still. [He] It will never be a problem for the national team. Neither for the national team nor for me,” he added. “I had a great pleasure working with him last year, [it’s] “He’s easy to work with.”
A new era after Martínez
Jesús’ appointment marks a significant change for Portugal after their disappointing elimination from the 2026 World Cup.
Martínez was transparent in his departure: “I came to Portugal to win the World Cup and I think that, without winning it, there is no point in continuing. The board and the president now have the opportunity to choose the new coach… my contract ends today.” That opportunity has been taken advantage of by Jesus, who now inherits
The road to 2030
While the immediate focus is on the UEFA Nations League clash against Wales in September, the long-term goal is the 2030 World Cup, which Portugal will co-host alongside Spain and Morocco. Jesús arrives with an elite resume, having won three league titles with Benfica and a historic national treble during his time with Al-Nassr’s rival, Al-Hilal.
The challenge for the veteran tactician will be to balance integrating Portugal’s “golden generation” of young talent with Ronaldo’s legacy. By confirming CR7’s participation from day one, Jesús is betting on the striker’s professionalism and aptitude to guide the team through this critical transition period and towards possible titles at home.
