The great HLV has just taken office and immediately decided the future of Ronaldo with the Portuguese national team.

Coach Jorge Jesus affirmed that Cristiano Ronaldo has never been an issue for Portugal and will continue to be selected if he meets the playing conditions.

After being appointed as the head coach of the Portuguese national team, Jorge Jesus immediately faced many questions regarding Cristiano Ronaldo's future. At age 41, Ronaldo just experienced what is considered his last World Cup in his career, as Portugal was eliminated by Spain in the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup.

Although Ronaldo was criticized for his performance in the tournament held in North America, Jorge Jesus publicly defended his former student. The 71-year-old manager stated that he does not see Ronaldo as a burden; instead, he still regards the superstar as a special icon of Portuguese football.

Speaking during his introductory press conference, Jorge Jesus said: “As long as he is still playing and eligible to be selected, I will choose him, within certain limits and under the conditions that I consider best for the national team.”

This is seen as the clearest message indicating that Ronaldo still has a chance to wear the European Selecao jersey in the new era.

Jesus also rejected the view that Ronaldo's presence could negatively affect the dressing room. He emphasized: “Cristiano will never be a problem for the national team, nor for me.”

Jorge Jesus is no stranger to Ronaldo. The two previously worked together at Al-Nassr, where the Portuguese manager had the opportunity to understand the personality and professional habits of the five-time Ballon d'Or winner. Therefore, he appears very confident when talking about the possibility of continuing to collaborate with Ronaldo at the national team level.

Jesus added: “Cris is a symbol of Portuguese football. Cris is a symbol of the national team... this will forever be recorded in history.” He also stated: “I am very happy to have worked with him over the past year. It is easy to work with him.”

However, Ronaldo's future with the team is not yet fully decided. Jesus admitted that he has not directly spoken with CR7 about the upcoming plans. The 71-year-old manager said: “We will have a private conversation about what he wants to do with his career future.”

According to Jesus, Ronaldo still wants to continue playing for Al-Nassr and will likely end his career at the Saudi Arabian club. He revealed: “He always told me: I will end my career at Al-Nassr.”

Jorge Jesus will lead Portugal in a four-year cycle, aiming for the World Cup 2030, a tournament co-hosted by Portugal, Spain, and Morocco. On that journey, how he handles Ronaldo's future will certainly be one of the most closely watched stories.