Cristiano Ronaldo's international career could live to see another day, Portugal's new boss Jorge Jesus has revealed.
The Portuguese icon bagged his first, and supposedly final, World Cup knockout goal for his nation against Croatia, before losing 1-0 to Spain in what is believed to have been his last match on the stage.
Instead, with the appointment of Ronaldo's former manager at Al-Nassr, the striker's international retirement could be postponed.
Cristiano Ronaldo could play on, says new Portugal boss Jorge Jesus
Ronaldo enjoyed his second highest goalscoring World Cup campaign in 2026, with three strikes against Uzbekistan and Croatia.
That brought his World Cup haul to 11, sending him two clear of Portugal's former record holder, Eusebio, who scored nine in 1966.
After another woeful campaign on the World Cup stage for Portugal, this time with a generation of stars and winners, Jorge Jesus was appointed post-exit to replace the failing Roberto Martinez.
Jesus previously coached the #7 in the Saudi Pro League, as recently as last season when the pair won the top-flight title together.
Speaking at his unveiling as manager, the ex-Al-Nassr coach said: "I haven't spoken to Cris yet. [But, his involvement] will never be a problem for the national team or for me.
"When I have to make a decision, I will speak to him. But not only with him, I will speak to everyone individually.
"'As long as I understand how far he can go and how far I can go... He will always be the one to decide what he wants to do in his career. If he is playing and has the conditions to play.
The new Portugal boss concluded: "If he is eligible for selection, I will call him up, within the limits and conditions that I deem best for the national team."
Jesus also reflected on what Ronaldo means to him, from his time at Al-Nassr, revealing that one of his main motivations in taking the job was to help Ronaldo prevail in the Saudi Pro League.
Cristiano Ronaldo revealed last week that he won't play a seventh World Cup with Portugal in 2030, despite the tournament being jointly hosted in his home country.
