Cristiano Ronaldo Eyes 1,000 Goals as He Joins Jorge Jesus’ First Portugal Squad

Jorge Jesus Addresses Ronaldo’s Squad Selection and Status

This squad marks the first selection under Jesus, who took over the managerial position in July after Roberto Martinez stepped down following Portugal’s exit in the round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup against Spain. Jesus addressed questions regarding the veteran captain’s role during a news conference on September 18, 2026, stating that past achievements do not guarantee playing time. His performance is what matters. In this squad, there are 13 players who have worked with me. I don’t have a set core, so within this group, there were several players who were important for this squad. The manager added that while Ronaldo holds a distinct reputation with five Ballon d’Or titles, that status will not dictate team selection. Cris is a player like any other. If he performs, he plays; if not, he doesn’t. He has a different status – he has five Ballon d’Or awards – but does that factor into my decisions?

Upcoming Fixtures and Squad Composition for the Nations League

Portugal begins its Nations League campaign at home against Wales on September 24, 2026. The 25-player selection spans domestic and international clubs. The goalkeeping department features Diogo Costa of Porto, Rui Silva of Sporting, and Samuel Soares of Benfica. Defensive options include Goncalo Inacio of Sporting, Joao Cancelo of Barcelona, Diogo Dalot of Manchester United, Nuno Tavares of Lazio, Nuno Mendes of Paris St Germain, Renato Veiga of Villarreal, Ruben Dias of Manchester City, and Tomas Araujo of Benfica. Midfielders named to the squad are Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United, Joao Palhinha of Benfica, Joao Neves of Paris St Germain, Ruben Neves of Al-Hilal, Vitinha of Paris St Germain, and Bernardo Silva of Real Madrid.

Retirement Speculation and Career Milestones

The squad announcement follows remarks made by Ronaldo in August 2026, where the forward indicated that the upcoming period would likely mark the final phase of his playing career. Having previously confirmed that the 2026 FIFA World Cup would be his final appearance in that specific tournament, the Portugal captain has continued playing at the club level with Al Nassr while keeping his international future open. Ronaldo’s career total stands as he aims to reach 1,000 official goals, a target highlighted in recent coverage surrounding his continuation with the national team. Having made his senior professional debut for Sporting in 2002, the forward has secured major club honors with Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, and Al Nassr.