In Portugal’s first international window after the 2026 World Cup, a public selection exercise has placed Cristiano Ronaldo outside the supporters’ preferred starting side for Jorge Jesus’s opening match in charge.
The news from the club
Jorge Jesus has begun a new chapter with the Portugal national team, and the debate around his first XI has quickly centred on its longest-serving star. In a position-by-position vote held ahead of the Nations League meeting with Wales, Portuguese readers did not include Ronaldo among the 11 players they would choose to start.
The 41-year-old forward was named among the substitutes in the supporters’ side, despite remaining Portugal’s captain and the leading scorer in the history of the national team.
Ronaldo has been included in Jesus’s squad and is taking part in preparations as normal. Jesus has also made clear that the forward will not create difficulties for the new Portugal set-up, saying: “Cristiano Ronaldo will never be a problem for the Portuguese national team.”
The vote is not an indication of the side Portugal will field. Jesus has not yet announced his line-up for Wales, and the final decision remains with the coach.
A first night against Wales
The Wales fixture in the Nations League will be Jesus’s first match as Portugal manager, following his appointment after the 2026 World Cup. It begins a new cycle for the national side, with Ronaldo’s role certain to be one of the early questions around the new coach’s plans.
