Portugal manager Jorge Jesus opens door for Cristiano Ronaldo return after Nations League wins

Management addresses Ronaldo departure

Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus and Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proença stated on Sunday that Cristiano Ronaldo is welcome to return to the national team. The announcement followed Portugal's 2-1 victory over Norway at the Estádio do Dragão in Porto, which secured the defending champions a place in the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals. The 41-year-old forward, who plays for Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr, walked out of the squad's training camp on Wednesday after learning he would not start the subsequent match against Denmark. Jesus previously kept Ronaldo on the substitutes' bench during an earlier 2-1 away victory against Norway.

Addressing reporters after Sunday's fixture, Jesus rejected suggestions that he needed to issue an apology and clarified that the captain remains eligible for future international call-ups if he continues playing for his club.

If he wants to, he'll return to the national team. We can talk before the next call-up, but Cris is the one who's going to decide.

Proença echoed the manager's stance in remarks broadcast on Portuguese television channel RTP, classifying the conflict as an internal misunderstanding. Ronaldo, who has scored 146 goals in 234 international appearances and won five Ballon d'Or awards, stated on social media following his exit that he would explain his reasons to the Portuguese public in due course.

We are talking about the greatest player of all time, a player who has given more than two decades to Portuguese soccer.

Perfect record in Group A4

On the pitch, Portugal maintained a perfect record in Group A4, collecting four victories from four matches. The team began the campaign with a 1-0 win over Wales, in which Ronaldo was replaced by Gonçalo Ramos, before earning a 2-1 victory in Norway. Following Ronaldo's departure on Wednesday, Portugal recorded a 4-2 away victory in Denmark and completed the international window with Sunday's 2-1 win over Norway in Porto.

Sunday's match at Estádio do Dragão saw Norway take the lead in the 36th minute when Kristoffer Ajer struck a half-volley into the far corner from Martin Ødegaard's free kick. João Cancelo equalised for Portugal two minutes later. Ramos scored the winning goal in the 79th minute from close range following a sequence involving Vitinha and João Félix. Portugal held on despite Francisco Conceição receiving a second yellow card late in the match, while Norway striker Erling Haaland was substituted in the 67th minute without scoring.

Group standings and political reaction

The result confirmed Portugal's place in the Nations League quarter-finals with four wins. Denmark occupy second place in Group A4 with two wins following a 1-0 victory over Wales decided by a Rasmus Højlund penalty, while Wales and Norway remain on one win each.

Former Portuguese president Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa intervened after Sunday's match, telling RTP Notícias that the squad had maintained cold heads despite intense emotions and urging all parties to handle the dispute discreetly. He noted that domestic problems should be solved at home, serenely and rationally, while acknowledging Ronaldo's ongoing link to the country. Portugal will conclude their Group A4 schedule during the next international window, hosting Denmark on November 14 before playing away against Wales on November 17.