Portugal make a sharp turn on Cristiano Ronaldo, want him back after Al-Nassra’s goal: Will he answer the call?

FILE – Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo leaves the field after the World Cup Round of 16 match between Portugal and Spain in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Monday, July 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File) Cristiano Ronaldo is back in goal for Al-Nassr and Portugal want their captain back. Despite the disciplinary proceedings for his departure from the national team camp, both federation president Pedro Proença and coach Jorge Jesus have explicitly said they want him to return. Ronaldo has also made it clear that he remains willing to represent Portugal once the matter is resolved, but with the November games looming, will he answer the call?

Ronaldo scored for Al-Nassr as Portugal’s attitude softened

Ronaldo returned to club football on Friday 9 October, scoring the opening goal in the 23rd minute of Al-Nassr’s 3–0 win over Diriyah Club. It was his first appearance since leaving Portugal’s national team camp during the international break in October, and his 980th career goal moved closer to the 1,000 milestone as the dispute over his international future continued.Al-Nassr’s supporters greeted him with a large banner reading “Greatness is deserved” and chanted his name during the seventh minute in a show of support as his relationship with Portugal remained uncertain.The Portuguese Football Federation opened disciplinary proceedings on Friday, but on Saturday made the case public, calling it urgent and referring it to a disciplinary investigation committee. The federation said Ronaldo was initially subject to an automatic provisional suspension after leaving the camp without permission, before a separate, non-automatic preventive suspension was handed down when the proceedings began.However, the public tone changed within hours when Proença made it clear the federation wanted their captain back for the November international break.“The federation, the coach and all of Ronaldo’s teammates are united, we want Ronaldo back,” Proença was quoted as saying by Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano.“I expect Ronaldo to come back during the international break in November next year and he also wants to come back, he is the best player ever,” added the federation president.

What happened between Ronaldo and Jorge Jesus?

The fallout began when Ronaldo left Portugal’s camp on September 30 following a dispute with Jesus over his role in the team. According to Ronaldo, he expected to start against Norway, but despite the warm-up, he remained an unused substitute and subsequently accused the coach of breaking his word and not explaining the situation honestly.

Ronaldo has reportedly left Portugal after Jesus reportedly broke promises regarding his Norway warm-up, with a private apology replaced by public defiance/ Picture: X

Ronaldo later released a lengthy statement, initially released to Portuguese media, giving his version of events and explaining why he felt trust had been breached. He apologized to his teammates for leaving the camp, accepted responsibility for his actions and said he was ready to face any disciplinary action the federation saw fit.Significantly, he did not present the incident as an international retirement announcement. Instead, Ronaldo said he wants to continue representing Portugal once his suspension is served, provided he stays fit and continues to play for his club.“So if I’m physically fit, I’ll play with my team and hopefully I’ll score goals, after my suspension I’ll be available as I always have been to compete and win with our national team. Trust me, that’s absolutely true,” Ronaldo wrote.Jesus also now made his position clear, indicating that dissent would not prevent a possible appeal. His earlier reaction to Ronaldo’s statement was reserved, saying he had read the report and had nothing to add, but has since identified with the federation’s conciliatory approach.“I don’t know. I don’t know how Cristiano could decide… Since nothing extraordinary has happened to affect my authority as a coach, for me Cristiano will be eligible for another call (November) if he plays for Al Nassr, provided he wants to return to the national team,” Jesus said.The coach also characterized the tension as a misunderstanding and made it clear that Ronaldo would remain welcome if he wanted to return and fulfill the necessary sporting requirements.

Ronaldo’s 1,000 goal ambition could set him back

Ronaldo has now done exactly what he said would be necessary for a comeback: he started playing for Al-Nassr again and continued to score. His goal against Diriyah took his career tally to 980, leaving him 20 points short of a milestone that could become one of the defining moments of his final years in football.

Soccer Soccer – Saudi Pro League – Al Nassr vs Al Diriyah – Al Awwal Park, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – October 9, 2026 Al Nassr’s Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates his first goal REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed

Portuguese journalist Miguel Pereira previously told talkSPORT that Ronaldo wanted to score his 1,000th career goal for Portugal rather than for Al-Nassr, adding potential international significance to the milestone. If that ambition remains unchanged, November could offer him another opportunity to get closer to the goal with his country.Portugal have already secured their place in the quarter-finals of the Nations League after winning their opening four matches. They face Denmark on November 14 and travel to Wales three days later, with all eyes now on whether Ronaldo will return to the squad.Disciplinary proceedings are still ongoing, but with federation president Pedro Proença and coach Jorge Jesus making it clear they want Ronaldo back, the case may not prove to be a major obstacle to his return. After all, if Portugal are ready to welcome their captain back, the bigger question is whether Ronaldo is up to the challenge.