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Portugal’s next chapter starts with a familiar face in the dugout and an even more familiar one on the pitch. Jorge Jesus, the leading candidate to take over as Portugal’s national team head coach, has moved quickly to address the biggest question hovering over the appointment: what happens with Cristiano Ronaldo.
The answer, according to Jesus, is straightforward. Ronaldo “will never be a problem” for the team. Coming from someone who just spent a year coaching the man at Al Nassr, that carries a bit more weight than the usual diplomatic press conference filler.
A coach who knows the player
Jesus joined Al Nassr in July 2025 with one explicit mission: help Ronaldo win titles in the Saudi Pro League.
Mission accomplished. The pair delivered a Saudi Pro League championship in May 2026, giving Ronaldo the domestic silverware that had eluded him during his earlier tenure in the Gulf. Jesus then departed the club, walking away from what was reportedly a significantly higher salary to pursue the Portugal job.
Jesus has described Ronaldo as a symbol of Portuguese football. He also intends to involve Ronaldo thoughtfully in discussions about team decisions.
Portugal’s post-Martinez reset
Martinez left following Portugal’s early exit from the 2026 World Cup. The Portuguese Football Federation moved relatively quickly to identify a successor, with Jesus’s expected official appointment around July 8, 2026, positioning him to lead Portugal through the qualification phase for the 2030 World Cup.
Jesus has shown he can manage strong personalities. His coaching career spans decades across Portuguese and international football, including stints at Benfica, Sporting, and Flamengo in Brazil. The Al Nassr experience is the most directly relevant data point.
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