New Portugal Coach Defends Ronaldo After World Cup Criticism
New Portugal coach Jorge Jesus has defended Cristiano Ronaldo against criticism following the team's World Cup 2026 round-of-16 elimination, calling him a symbol of Portuguese football despite scrutiny over his performance.
New Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus has dismissed criticism of Cristiano Ronaldo following the team's World Cup 2026 elimination at the round of 16 stage. Ronaldo faced heavy scrutiny for his performance in what was set to be his final World Cup appearance, with some viewing him as a liability for the Portuguese squad. Jesus, who recently took over as Portugal's head coach through 2023, defended Ronaldo, stating: "Cristiano Ronaldo will never be a problem for the national team or for me. He is a symbol of Portuguese football and the Portuguese national team, and this will be inscribed in history forever. I have been very happy to work with him over the past year. Working with him is easy, as long as you understand where we both can go." Jesus added: "Everything becomes easier after that, but it depends on what I want to do. I know he wants to continue playing at Al Nassr. He told me he wants to end his career there. But as long as I have the opportunity to be selected, I will do what I think is best for the national team."
