New Portugal coach Jorge Jesus picks Ronaldo but warns status earns him nothing

Jorge Jesus included Cristiano Ronaldo in Portugal’s Nations League squad on Friday, his first selection since being appointed to replace Roberto Martinez following Portugal’s 1-0 round-of-16 exit to Spain at the World Cup.

Jesus was direct about how he intends to handle the world’s all-time leading international scorer. “All the called-up players are at my disposal,” the 72-year-old said. “If he performs well, he plays. If he doesn’t perform well, he doesn’t play. That’s how I treat everyone.”

He did, however, acknowledge Ronaldo’s unique standing in the game. “Now, does Cris have a different status? Yes. His career is different. He has five Ballon d’Or awards. But does that influence my decisions? No. It doesn’t influence anything, zero — but he is different from the others.”

The appointment reunites Jesus with Ronaldo on the international stage after the pair worked together at Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr, where they won the league title last season. Jesus has also previously managed Benfica and Sporting Lisbon during a long career in Portuguese football.

Ronaldo, who turns 42 in February, declared this summer’s World Cup his last, but has yet to announce his retirement from international football. He currently holds the men’s international scoring record with 146 goals and is closing in on 1,000 career goals across club and country, sitting on 979. Jesus, though, was candid about where he expects that milestone to be reached.

“I think he’s more likely to score his thousandth goal for Al-Nassr than for the Portuguese national team,” Jesus said.

Portugal open their Nations League campaign by hosting Wales on 24 September, before travelling to face Norway on 27 September and Denmark on 1 October, then returning home to host Norway again on 4 October. Ronaldo’s greatest achievement with the national side remains the 2016 European Championship, the only major international trophy of his career.