After months of speculation surrounding his international future following the 2026 World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo will continue wearing Portugal’s jersey. The 41-year-old striker tops the first call-up list released by new national team coach Jorge Jesus, quashing rumors that he might retire from national duty.
Ronaldo remains firmly in place as team captain and the country’s all-time leading scorer, even as Portugal enters a new chapter under fresh leadership.
Jesus, who takes over the bench after Roberto Martínez’s departure, wasted no time signaling continuity rather than a rebuild. The seasoned coach made clear that Ronaldo will remain the cornerstone of his project, which aims to blend the experience of veteran players with rising young talent from Portuguese soccer.
For this key international window, Jesus called up 25 players in total, with a clear goal in mind: defending Portugal’s status as reigning Nations League champions and reaffirming its dominance in European soccer.
The move ends weeks of uncertainty about whether Ronaldo, who has openly discussed his eventual retirement, would keep representing his country. For now, at least, the ‘Bicho’—as fans affectionately call him—isn’t going anywhere.
Want the full story? Check out the original report at Excélsior.
Source: <![CDATA[¡El ‘Bicho’ no se va! Cristiano Ronaldo lidera la primera lista de Jorge Jesus con Portugal]]> (RSS::excelsior.com.mx – Portada).
Image: Johnragai-Moment Catcher, BY 2.0 (via Openverse).