Jorge Jesus Says Ronaldo Can Return to Portugal Squad

Lisbon, Portugal watched its national football team qualify for the Nations League quarterfinals without Cristiano Ronaldo on the field, and its coach, Jorge Jesus, said the door remains open for the 41-year-old forward to return whenever he chooses.

Portugal beat Norway 2-1 on Saturday to become the first side through to the last eight of the 2026-27 UEFA Nations League, a result delivered three days after Ronaldo left the national-team camp over his place in the squad, according to Al Jazeera.

Why Did Ronaldo Leave Portugal's Training Camp?

Ronaldo, Portugal's leading goalscorer and most-capped player, was substituted in the Nations League opener against Wales on September 24 and then named an unused substitute in a 2-1 win over Norway on September 27, Al Jazeera reported. When Jesus told him he would again be left on the bench for a match against Denmark, Ronaldo took a private flight back to Saudi Arabia rather than stay with the squad, according to the same report. Portugal went on to win that match 4-2 without him.

What Did Jorge Jesus Say About His Return?

Speaking to reporters after the Norway win, Jesus said he would welcome Ronaldo back but left the decision to the player. "For me, Cris, in the next call-up, if he's playing at Al-Nassr, he'll be a player who can be called up," Jesus said, referring to Ronaldo's Saudi Arabian club. "If he wants to, he'll return to the national team."

Jesus added that any conversation about a return would happen on the same terms as before the current international window. "If he wants to, as we did before this call-up, we talked before the call-up; we can talk before the next call-up," he said. "But Cris is the one who's going to decide."

How Did Portugal Perform Without Him?

Against Norway, Kristoffer Ajer opened the scoring with what Al Jazeera described as a shot from outside the penalty area. Joao Cancelo leveled the match before Goncalo Ramos scored the winner in the 86th minute, sending Portugal through as the first team to reach the Nations League quarterfinals this cycle. Norway reached the quarterfinals of the World Cup, underscoring the level of opposition Portugal beat without its longtime captain on the field.

What Are the Numbers Behind the Dispute?

• Ronaldo, 41, was benched for two of Portugal's three most recent fixtures before leaving camp, per Al Jazeera's reporting.
• Portugal went 2-0 in matches played after his departure, beating Denmark 4-2 and Norway 2-1.

Those results fueled public debate in Portugal over whether the team's performance without its record scorer strengthens or complicates Jesus's case for leaving the door open.

What Have Teammates Said About the Dispute?

Bruno Fernandes, who plays alongside Ronaldo for the national team, addressed the situation before the Norway match in comments carried by Al Jazeera. "He has a reserved place not only among the best of all time, but also in the hearts of all Portuguese people, and the most important thing is that we stop dividing things," Fernandes said. "There are no divisions in the national team. It is one and will remain so, despite any noise that may come from outside."

Fernandes said he had spoken with Ronaldo directly and denied that the squad was split over the matter, though he did not detail the content of that conversation beyond the quote reported by Al Jazeera.

What Happens Before Portugal's November Matches?

Jesus said any reconciliation would follow the same pattern as the buildup to the current window, when the two spoke before the squad was named. He did not set a date for that conversation or say whether it had already taken place. Portugal's next Nations League fixtures fall in November, and Jesus's comments leave Ronaldo's participation contingent on a decision the coach says belongs to the player alone.

Al-Nassr, Ronaldo's club in Saudi Arabia's Pro League, has not issued a statement on the matter referenced in the available reporting, and no timeline for a Ronaldo response has been reported.