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Cristiano Ronaldo Named in Portugal Squad for Upcoming Nations League Games
Confirmed
In Short: Portugal coach Jorge Jesus has named Ronaldo, 41, in the squad for four upcoming Nations League games.
Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, has been named in the first squad selected by new Portugal coach Jorge Jesus, ending speculation about his retirement from international football.
Ronaldo, who announced that this summer's World Cup would be his last, was in tears after Portugal's exit from the tournament. He refused to confirm whether he would continue to play for his country after the World Cup round-of-16 defeat by Spain.
The 41-year-old Portugal captain is part of a 25-man group chosen for Portugal's four Nations League games between September 24 and October 4. The squad includes Manchester United pair Diogo Dalot and Bruno Fernandes, as well as Ruben Dias from Manchester City and Chelsea's Pedro Neto.
Ronaldo, who plays for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, also called for the league to ban fans for life after some fans chanted the name of the late Diogo Jota towards Ruben Neves during a match. Jota, a close friend of Neves, died in a car crash last year.
Some Portugal players, including Neves, were wearing wrist bands given to them by their Prime Minister Luis Montenegro in tribute to Jota. Neves, who scored the opening goal in Portugal's match against Congo, wears the number 21 shirt for Portugal in Jota’s memory and has a tattoo on his calf showing the two players embracing.
What's confirmed
- Jesus has replaced Roberto Martinez, who stepped down as Portugal coach after their World Cup exit.
- ‘The league must take action and punish this kind of fan behaviour,’ Ronaldo wrote on Instagram. 🚨 𝐖𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇: Ruben Neves' reaction as Al-Taawoun fans repeat the name of his late close friend: "Jota, Jota, Jota…" 🙏 pic.twitter.com/2iPdA36H3i ‘This is no longer football, and there have to be limits.
- Cristiano Ronaldo plays for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League and was a Portugal team-mate of the late Diogo Jota Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo has called for lifetime bans to be issued to fans who chanted the late Diogo Jota's name towards his international team-mate Ruben Neves.
What's still developing
- Ronaldo's World Cup career ends in tears as 'pandering' Martinez departs 'You've been trying to kill me for 23 years' - should Ronaldo start?
- The 72-year-old was Ronaldo's club boss last season, when the pair helped Al-Nassr win the Saudi Pro League for the first time in seven years.
- The oldest player in the history of the Euros is Ronaldo's former Portugal team-mate Pepe, who was 41 and 130 days for his last game at Euro 2024.
- Portugal are at home to Wales on 24 September (19:45 BST) and away to Norway three days later.
- Ronaldo confirmed in July that the 2026 World Cup would be his last, but he was unwilling to make a hasty call on his international future.
- In August, Ronaldo fuelled speculation about his retirement plans after saying the coming year would probably be the last of his playing career.
- The 41-year-old Portugal captain is one of the most decorated players in soccer history, having won major trophies with Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus and current club Al-Nassr since making his senior debut for Sporting in 2002.
- Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d'Or winner, was unable to add a World Cup title to his list of honours after Portugal were knocked out in the last 16 by eventual champions Spain, leaving the sport's biggest prize absent from his trophy cabinet.