FPF names Jorge Jesus coach: possible reunion with Ronaldo
According to Soccernews.
Context
Jorge Jesus, who previously coached Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr, will have the task of revitalizing the national team and exploring the potential of the Portuguese captain, who performed remarkably well under his guidance. The relationship between Jesus and Ronaldo could be crucial to the team's morale and success in future tournaments.
Why this matters
The appointment of Jorge Jesus as Portugal coach comes at a critical moment after the team's elimination from the 2026 World Cup. The team has faced difficulties in major tournaments, not reaching the round of 16 in recent editions, which raises questions about its competitiveness in the next Euro 2028 and the 2030 World Cup, where it will be co-host.
Main conclusions
- FPF names Jorge Jesus coach: possible reunion with Ronaldo.
- Jorge Jesus was made official as Portugal's new coach, succeeding Roberto Martínez after their elimination in the 2026 World Cup.
- Cristiano Ronaldo remains central to Portugal's plans.
The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) confirmed Jorge Jesus as the new national coach, succeeding Roberto Martínez after Portugal's elimination from the 2026 World Cup. The Quinas team fell in the round of 16, in Dallas, against Spain (0-1), in a late goal from Mikel Merino already in added time, a result that precipitated the change on the bench.
At 71 years old, Jorge Jesus signs a four-season commitment, a cycle that covers Euro 2028, to be played in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, and the 2030 World Cup, a tournament that will have Portugal as co-organizer alongside Spain and Morocco. FIFA also awarded three centenary commemorative games to Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, thus marking an unprecedented format for the 2030 edition.
The FPF's choice fell on a coach that Cristiano Ronaldo knows well: Jorge Jesus guided the striker at Al-Nassr, in Saudi Arabia. In 2025/26, Al-Nassr de Jesus became champions of the Saudi Pro League, the club's first national champion title since Ronaldo's arrival in 2023. During that season, the Portuguese captain scored 28 goals in 30 league games under the coach's orders, an average of 0.93 goals per match. Throughout his career, Ronaldo only showed higher averages in the championship with Carlo Ancelotti (1.22), José Mourinho (1.13) and Zinedine Zidane (0.97) at Real Madrid, Maurizio Sarri (0.94) at Juventus, and Luis Castro and Rudi Garcia (1.10) at Al-Nassr itself.
The transition in technical command comes after another global participation without a presence in the semi-finals. Since finishing fourth in the 2006 World Cup in Germany, Portugal has not gone beyond the quarter-finals in the last five editions: they reached the group stage in 2014, fell to the round of 16 in 2010, 2018 and 2026, and reached the quarter-finals in 2022.
Jorge Jesus arrives with a vast CV. He spent 28 years in Portuguese football, with his most recognized work at Benfica: 10 trophies, including three national champion titles, in addition to two appearances in the Europa League finals. He returned to Luz in 2020/21, in a second less fruitful spell, and also added important international experiences: two cycles at Al-Hilal, the historic victory of the Libertadores Cup with Flamengo, and spells at Fenerbahçe and Al-Nassr.
In Portugal, expectations now focus on the Cristiano Ronaldo dossier. The 41-year-old forward assumed before the duel with Spain that the 2026 World Cup would be the last of his career, but stressed that he would not make hasty decisions about his future with the national team. According to reports in Portugal, Jorge Jesus intends to keep Ronaldo as an important player in the new cycle, although the captain's continuity remains under evaluation.
With the appointment made official, the new selector will begin a project with a clear horizon: rebuilding a national team with great talent to compete in Euro 2028 and preparing, from now on, the biggest challenge of 2030, when Portugal will once again host World Cup games.
What happens next
With Jorge Jesus at the helm, Portugal is expected to begin a new cycle of preparation for the next international competitions. The possibility of a reunion with Cristiano Ronaldo, who has an uncertain international future, could influence the team's dynamics and its performance in the next editions of the 2026 World Cup and Euro 2028.
Frequently asked questions
What was the result of the game between Portugal and Spain at the 2026 World Cup?
Portugal lost to Spain 0-1 in the round of 16.
Who is the new coach of the Portuguese national team?
Jorge Jesus was named as the new national coach.
What is the impact of Portugal's elimination from the 2026 World Cup on the table?
Portugal's elimination in the round of 16 means they did not advance to the final stages of the tournament.
When will the next important tournament be for Portugal?
The next important tournament for Portugal will be Euro 2028.
Cristiano Ronaldo played under Jorge Jesus for which club?
Cristiano Ronaldo played under Jorge Jesus at Al-Nassr.