Ronaldo called up to Portugal squad — Dawn
In Portugal, the new head coach of the national team, Jorge Jesus, has included Cristiano Ronaldo in his first squad for the next four Nations League matches. The squad of the current tournament winners includes 25 footballers, Dawn reports.
Jesus’ decision
The 41-year-old Portugal captain said in August that next year would probably be the last of his playing career. In July, Ronaldo also confirmed that the 2026 World Cup would be his last, but did not rush into a decision on ending his appearances for the national team.
At a press conference, Jesus stressed that a player’s performances, rather than past achievements, are important to him. According to him, the squad includes 13 players he has already worked with.
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“Cristiano is a player like everyone else. If he performs well, he plays; if not, he does not play. He has a different status — he has five Ballon d'Or awards — but does that influence my decisions? No,” Jesus said.
Upcoming matches
Jesus will make his debut as Portugal’s head coach on September 24 in a home match against Wales. Portugal will then play away against Norway on September 27 and Denmark on October 1, before hosting Norway on October 4.
The 72-year-old Jesus was appointed head coach in July, a few days after Spaniard Roberto Martinez left the post following the team’s elimination from the World Cup. Ronaldo plays for Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr.
