Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo can return to the squad if he wishes, despite walking out on his team-mates, said national team coach Jorge Jesus on Sunday. Ronaldo subsequently walked out on the squad on Wednesday after learning he would not start against Denmark. The dispute began last week when Jesus left 41-year-old Ronaldo on the bench for Portugal’s first win over Norway.
Jesus said Ronaldo can come back into the fold “if he wants to” after the team beat Norway without the veteran attacker to reach the Nations League quarter-finals.
Ronaldo’s long-time rival for the title of the world’s best player, Lionel Messi, will play his final match for Argentina in a friendly against Benin in Buenos Aires on Tuesday. “If he wants to, he’ll return to the national team. The forward has been a fixture of the national team for more than two decades and has played at six World Cups.
Jesus said he had told Ronaldo he needed him in the squad for his first games at the helm after replacing Roberto Martinez following the 2026 World Cup.
“For me, Cris, in the next call-up, if he’s playing at Al-Nassr, he’ll be a player who can be called up,” Jesus told reporters, referring to Ronaldo’s Saudi club side. The coach said if Ronaldo wishes to speak to him before Portugal’s next matches in November, that would happen. “Cristiano should end his time in the national team the way he wants, he’s the one who will decide how he wants it,” said Jesus.
