Cristiano Ronaldo is set to continue his international football journey after being selected in the first senior squad named by Portugal's new manager Jorge Jesus. The decision settles ongoing speculation surrounding whether the 41-year-old forward would step away from representing his country on the global stage.
Questions regarding his future escalated following Portugal's elimination from the World Cup in July, where they suffered a round-of-16 defeat at the hands of eventual tournament champions Spain. Ronaldo, who had previously indicated that this summer's World Cup would serve as his final appearance in the competition, left the pitch in tears following the loss. At the time, he deferred any immediate commitment about extending his national team tenure, stating that he would meet with his family and make decisions with a calm head.
Selection for the Four Nations League Fixtures
The Al-Nassr attacker features in a 25-man squad tasked with contesting four Nations League fixtures scheduled across a demanding period between 24 September and 4 October. Over an international career spanning 233 appearances for Portugal, Ronaldo has scored a record 146 goals.
His working relationship with Jesus is already firmly established. The 72-year-old coach managed Ronaldo at club level last season, guiding Al-Nassr to their first Saudi Pro League title in seven years. Their partnership will now transition to the international arena as Portugal begin a fresh chapter under new management.
Milestones and Squad Composition
Ronaldo is slated to turn 42 prior to next summer's Nations League finals, and he will reach the age of 43 by the time Euro 2028 takes place. The current record for the oldest player to feature in the history of the European Championship belongs to his former international colleague Pepe, who made his final appearance at Euro 2024 at the age of 41 years and 130 days.
Alongside Ronaldo, the newly formed 25-man group features considerable Premier League talent. Manchester United duo Diogo Dalot and Bruno Fernandes have both earned call-ups, joined by Manchester City defender Ruben Dias and Chelsea forward Pedro Neto.
Schedule of Nations League Matches
Portugal will open their run of fixtures on home soil when they host Wales on 24 September, with kickoff scheduled for 19:45 BST. The team will then travel to face Norway three days later on foreign turf.
Continuing their travels, Portugal will visit Denmark on 1 October before heading back home to stage their concluding fixture against Norway on 4 October, wrapping up the four-match international window.
