The summer of 2026 will long be remembered for what could have been as far as Portuguese soccer is concerned.
With it being five-time Ballon d’Or winner and national treasure Cristiano Ronaldo’s sixth and final FIFA World Cup at the age of 41, playing in front of what should have been amongst the best midfields in the tournament, now-ex-head coach Roberto Martínez simply couldn’t find the recipe to make everything click.
Knocked out in the Round of 16 by Spain thanks to a late goal from Arsenal’s Mikel Merino, the hunt was on for a new coach to guide Portugal to a brighter future, with the next UEFA European Championship just two years away.
In comes Jorge Jesus, who most recently guided Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr to its first league title in 2019, with his team spearheaded by a certain Ronaldo, who managed 28 goals in 30 games.
Quizzed on Ronaldo’s international future, and whether or not he would be open to including the ageing superstar in future teams, Jesus replied, via ESPN, “I haven't spoken to Cris yet. He will never be a problem for the national team or for me. As for the controversy, everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
“When the time comes to make a decision, I will speak with Cris and with everyone else individually. Cris is a symbol of Portugal. He will go down in history. It has been a great pleasure working with him. He is incredibly easy to work with.
“I need to speak with him to find out what he wants to do. He has always told me that he wants to finish his career at Al-Nassr. If he is in a position to be called up, I will do so.”
Much like Ronaldo, Jesus doesn’t seem to be letting age get in the way of his career. This marks the 71-year-old’s first foray into international coaching, penning a four-year deal which could see him take charge at both the next Euros and the World Cup.
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“I'm 71, but I feel 50 because I'm healthy. I train every day -- an hour or two. It's going to be a tough challenge, but I'm convinced we'll win,” Jesus said.
“Age doesn't matter. Look at Cris. Under me, he used to cover 8 kilometers per match, reaching speeds above 25 km per hour. He played when I felt it was necessary. Sometimes I wouldn't even name him to the bench.
“Still on the subject of Cris, he played in 31 of 50 games last year. I substituted him 16 times, and there were never any problems. I have a big advantage here because 12 of the players called up for the World Cup have already worked with me.”
Among those 12 players are João Félix, João Cancelo, Rúben Neves, Bernardo Silva, and Rúben Dias - all of whom will likely play key roles for the national team in the coming years.
“I'm proud to be Portuguese and for the opportunity that I've been given. I have the opportunity to coach one of the best national teams in the world-and, on top of that, my own national team,” Jesus said. “I'm a proud Portuguese, and now I'll be coaching 11 million people. The Portuguese have filled me with pride at the World Cup.”
Source: Alloutsoccer.com
