Cristiano Ronaldo remains at the heart of Portugal's plans at 41 as Jorge Jesus begins his reign against Wales, opening another remarkable chapter in the legendary forward's international career.
Date: September 24, 2026
By Abiodun Adewale Adeniyi | Founder & Editor, Beyond the Final Whistle
Portugal are entering a new era, but the biggest name in Portuguese football remains very much part of it.
Cristiano Ronaldo has been selected in Jorge Jesus' first Portugal squad as the defending UEFA Nations League champions begin their latest campaign against Wales on Thursday.
According to Reuters, Jesus included the 41-year-old captain in his first squad while stressing that selection would ultimately be determined by performance rather than reputation.
Portugal's opener against Wales is also Jesus' first match in charge of the national team. UEFA's official Nations League schedule confirms that Portugal and Wales meet on September 24 before Portugal travel to Norway three days later.
Ronaldo Remains Part of Portugal's New Era
Jesus taking charge naturally raised questions about what Portugal might look like under another manager.
One of the biggest concerned Ronaldo.
Rather than immediately moving away from the veteran forward, Jesus has retained him and described Ronaldo as a "symbol of Portuguese football." The two already know each other from Al-Nassr, where Ronaldo played under Jesus.
But the new manager also has a talented group around his captain. His first squad includes established players such as Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva and Rúben Dias, giving him the foundations to reshape Portugal without having to abandon its most experienced player immediately.
The Ronaldo Retirement Question Isn't Going Away
At 41, every international window inevitably brings renewed discussion about how much longer Ronaldo will continue.
We have previously examined that bigger question on Beyond the Final Whistle in our feature, Cristiano Ronaldo Retirement: Is Football's Greatest Goalscorer Entering His Final Season?.
Ronaldo has already confirmed that the 2026 World Cup would be his last, but his inclusion in the Nations League squad shows that his international career has continued beyond that tournament.
For Jesus, therefore, the challenge is not simply deciding whether Ronaldo should play.
It is determining how Portugal should use him while simultaneously preparing for a future without him.
Portugal Begin Their Nations League Title Defence
Portugal enter the competition as defending champions after winning the 2024/25 Nations League.
They have been drawn in League A Group 4 alongside Wales, Norway and Denmark, with six league-phase matches scheduled between September and November.
The Wales match is therefore more than Jesus' managerial debut. It provides the first opportunity to see whether his Portugal will look significantly different from the team that preceded him.
And Ronaldo's role will inevitably be one of the biggest things to watch.
Portugal possess enough technical quality to build an attack around several different players. Jesus must find a system that maximises that talent without making the entire attack dependent upon a 41-year-old striker.
Another Big Night for International Football
Portugal vs Wales is part of a major opening night for the Nations League, with Netherlands vs Germany also taking place on Thursday.
That match begins another managerial chapter we have been following closely. Readers can also see our analysis of Klopp vs Xavi: Two New Eras Collide as Netherlands Face Germany.
For Portugal, however, tonight belongs to Jorge Jesus.
A new manager has arrived and another international cycle is beginning—but Cristiano Ronaldo is still there.
Beyond the Final Whistle, Portugal's transition presents Jorge Jesus with a fascinating balancing act. Ronaldo's experience and goals remain valuable, but the new coach must also develop a team capable of eventually succeeding without the country's greatest goalscorer. Wales will provide our first glimpse of how he intends to achieve that balance.
How big a role should Cristiano Ronaldo have in Jorge Jesus' new Portugal team at 41? Join the conversation on Beyond the Final Whistle.
