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Cristiano Ronaldo remains Jorge Jesus’ trusted man ahead of Portugal’s UEFA Nations League campaign for one crucial reason
Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly remains Jorge Jesus' trusted man ahead of Portugal's UEFA Nations League campaign for one crucial reason. The 2026 World Cup may be in the rearview mirror, but Cristiano Ronaldo’s international journey is far from over. As Portugal kicks off a brand-new era under head coach Jorge Jesus, the legendary captain remains firmly at the heart of the squad. With the UEFA Nations League campaign fast approaching, Jesus is leaning heavily on his superstar forward to lead the line. The appointment of Jesus marks the beginning of a fresh chapter for Portugal after Roberto Martinez stepped down following the team’s Round of 16 exit at the World Cup. While Ronaldo has yet to officially announce when he will retire from international soccer, the early signs suggest he will continue leading the Selecao das Quinas into another major competition. The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) confirmed Jorge Jesus as the new national team manager, handing the experienced coach a contract that runs through the 2030 World Cup, which Portugal will co-host. After decades of success at club level across Portugal, Brazil, Turkiye, and Saudi Arabia, Jesus now takes charge of his country for the first time. His résumé includes league titles with Benfica, historic success with Flamengo, domestic trophies with Fenerbahce, and championship-winning campaigns in Saudi Arabia. Most recently, he guided Al-Nassr to its first Saudi Pro League title in seven years, working closely with Cristiano Ronaldo and Joao Felix throughout the season. Bem-vindo, Mister. 🇵🇹 #ViemosParaVencer pic.twitter.com/5e7NlejqE2— Portugal (@selecaoportugal) July 10, 2026 Ronaldo remains firmly in the manager’s plans Questions about Ronaldo’s international future intensified after Portugal’s 1-0 defeat to Spain in the World Cup Round of 16, a match that ended with the captain leaving the field in tears. Although he acknowledged it was his final World Cup appearance, Ronaldo refused to rush into a decision regarding retirement. “I’m sad to be leaving the World Cup like this. I gave it my all. I did my best. It was my last World Cup, yes, but I’ll now have time to reflect and be with my family. I won’t be making any rash decisions. I don’t decide anything in the heat of the moment.” Source: Ronaldo’s post-match comments. Jesus quickly made his own position clear after accepting the Portugal job. “As long as he’s playing and is in a condition to be selected, I will pick him, within certain limits and under the conditions that I consider best for the national team,” the new Portugal coach said. “I haven’t spoken with him yet. He is never going to be a problem for the national team. Not for the national team, nor for me. I had great pleasure working with him this past year. It’s easy to work with him.” Cristiano Ronaldo #7 of Portugal applauds fans The key reason behind Jesus’ confidence As preparations begin for the next UEFA Nations League campaign, reports suggest Jesus has a very specific reason for continuing to trust Ronaldo. According to ESPN journalist Bruno Andrade, speaking to Mais Futebol, Jesus wants to make the most of the extensive tactical, technical, and physical understanding of Cristiano Ronaldo acquired during their successful time together at Al-Nassr. That familiarity is expected to help the coach carefully manage Ronaldo’s workload throughout the UEFA Nations League, whose knockout phase will only take place in 2027. The report also states that both the coach and the player are fully committed to the upcoming competition. Ronaldo has already confirmed he does not intend to play at the 2030 World Cup, but he has not established a timeline for ending his international career. Cristiano Ronaldo and team mates of Portugal pose for a photo with the UEFA Nations League trophy Ronaldo’s personal objective remains alive Bruno Andrade also revealed another factor motivating the Portugal captain: “Cristiano Ronaldo needs just 24 more goals to reach 1000 in
Jorge Jesus reportedly accepts Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal job despite massive pay cut from Al Nassr
Jorge Jesus has reportedly taken over the head coach position to lead Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal despite a massive pay cut compared to his salary at Al Nassr. Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal‘s 2026 World Cup run is over, but the federation has wasted little time in shaping the next chapter. Just days after Roberto Martinez’s exit, Jorge Jesus has reportedly accepted the Portugal job, doing so despite taking a significant pay cut from his contract at Al Nassr. Following the 1-0 defeat to Spain in the Round of 16, Martinez confirmed his departure with a measured farewell: “My era is over; now it is important to make a fresh start, and it is legitimate for the president to choose his own coach. I am grateful for all the support I received.“ The Portuguese Football Federation had already been thinking about a successor, with Martinez’s contract set to expire after the World Cup regardless of the result. According to Fabrizio Romano, Jorge Jesus is now set to take over, having agreed to a four-year deal with the Selecao. Jesus arrives having spent several years in Saudi Arabia, most recently at Al Nassr, where he guided the club to the Saudi Pro League title alongside Cristiano Ronaldo. Now at the helm of Portugal, the 71-year-old inherits a new cycle that includes the upcoming UEFA Nations League, Euro 2028, and the 2030 World Cup, which Portugal will co-host. Head coach Jorge Jesus interacts with Cristiano Ronaldo of Al Nassr. (Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images) Jorge Jesus and a significant salary gap Al Nassr had been keen to extend Jesus’s contract by another year, a move that would have aligned with Ronaldo’s current deal running through June 2027, and the club even raised its salary offer to keep him. Jesus, however, chose to hold out for the Portugal job, and the opportunity has now arrived. According to Portuguese outlet A Bola, Jesus will earn less than €4 million gross per year with the national team, totaling approximately €16 million over the life of the contract through 2030. That represents a dramatic reduction from the €12 million per year he was earning at Al Nassr, less than a third of his previous salary. Will Ronaldo play under Jorge Jesus at Portugal? Having gotten the best out of a 41-year-old Ronaldo at Al Nassr, Jesus’s appointment naturally raises the question of whether the legendary forward will continue his international career under his former club manager. After the Spain defeat, Ronaldo reiterated that 2026 was his last World Cup, but stopped short of announcing a full international retirement, saying he would “have time to think, be with my family, not make decisions in the heat of the moment, and move on with life.“ With his Al Nassr contract running through 2027, Ronaldo is expected to remain in club football for at least one more season. In that window, Portugal’s next international fixtures begin in September with UEFA Nations League matches against Wales and Norway, with the quarterfinal round scheduled for March 2027 and the Final Four in June 2027. That timeline makes the Nations League a realistic candidate to serve as the final chapter of Ronaldo’s international career.
How the USMNT’s win, draw, or loss vs Belgium could impact the 2026 World Cup bracket
What happens next carries consequences that stretch far beyond 90 minutes, especially for the 2026 World Cup bracket itself. The Round of 16 clash between USMNT and Belgium in Seattle arrives with everything still on the line, and the final result between the two national teams remains undecided as kickoff approaches. One outcome could redefine how far the United States men’s national team can go in this tournament, while Belgium enters with its own ambitions of another deep World Cup run. What happens next carries consequences that stretch far beyond 90 minutes, especially for the 2026 World Cup bracket itself. There is a growing sense that this matchup is one of the defining moments of the tournament so far, even before a ball is kicked. The stakes are simple on the surface, yet complicated in their impact. As the USMNT prepares to face Belgium in a decisive 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 fixture in Seattle, tactical discussions have been overshadowed by a major disciplinary controversy. Following his expulsion in the previous round, Folarin Balogun was widely expected to miss this crucial knockout tie. Instead, a dramatic, eleventh-hour decision to suspend his red-card ban has cleared the striker to play, entirely shifting Mauricio Pochettino’s attacking outlook and dominating the narrative just hours before kickoff. “The Belgian federation released a statement saying it was ‘astonished’ by the decision,” highlighting the tension surrounding FIFA’s ruling. Belgium’s head coach Rudi Garcia also pushed back, saying, “We’re not defending the national team or federation, we are defending football.” These reactions have added an emotional edge to an already high-pressure knockout fixture. DateUSMNT’s OpponentStageResultJune 12, 2026ParaguayGroup StageWin (4-1)June 19, 2026AustraliaGroup StageWin (2-0)June 25, 2026TürkiyeGroup StageLoss (2-3)July 1, 2026Bosnia and HerzegovinaRound of 32Win (2-0) The USMNT and Belgium also carry historical weight into the match, having met in memorable past tournaments. Their most famous encounter came in 2014, when Belgium eliminated the USMNT in extra time after a record-breaking performance from goalkeeper Tim Howard. Now, both national teams enter a new era with entirely different squads looking to write their own story. DateBelgium’s OpponentStageResultJune 15, 2026EgyptGroup StageDraw (1-1)June 21, 2026IranGroup StageDraw (0-0)June 26, 2026New ZealandGroup StageWin (5-1)July 1, 2026SenegalRound of 32Win (3-2, AET) What happens if the USMNT wins and Belgium loses? A victory for the United States would mark its deepest World Cup progression in more than two decades, instantly rewriting expectations for the program. The USMNT would advance to face the Spain in the quarterfinals in Los Angeles, a stage it has not reached since 2002. Tim Ream #13 and Folarin Balogun #20 of the United States. The presence of Folarin Balogun adds another layer of importance to this scenario, with his availability shifting attacking dynamics. His movement, pressing, and finishing ability could be decisive in a tight knockout contest. A win would also validate the team’s aggressive identity under pressure, with its high-intensity structure finally translating into elite results. It would also reinforce the belief that this generation can compete with Europe’s top sides on home soil. What happens if the match goes to a draw? A draw after regulation time does not preserve any safety net, as the knockout format forces a conclusion. In this scenario, both teams would enter extra time, where fatigue and small tactical margins often decide entire tournaments. The psychological tension would increase significantly, especially for a USMNT side playing in front of a home crowd. Belgium, meanwhile, would rely heavily on experience and individual quality in moments of chaos. Christian Pulisic #8 of the United States applauds fans after the team’s 2-0 victory If penalties are required, the outcome becomes even more unpredictabl