Jorge Jesus warns Cristiano Ronaldo: past accolades won’t secure starting spot

Jorge Jesus has been Portugal’s head coach for roughly two months, and he’s already drawn a line in the sand that would have been unthinkable a decade ago. Cristiano Ronaldo, the most prolific international goal scorer in football history, will need to earn his place like everyone else. The 41-year-old captain made the cut for Jesus’s first squad, announced on September 18, 2026, for a batch of UEFA Nations League fixtures. But inclusion in the 25-man roster is one thing. A guaranteed spot in the starting XI is something Jesus has made clear Ronaldo should not expect. Merit over mythology During the press conference unveiling his squad, Jesus was direct. Ronaldo’s five Ballon d’Or awards and record 146 goals across 233 international appearances are historic achievements, full stop. They are also, in Jesus’s framing, irrelevant to whether the forward starts against Wales on September 24, Norway on September 27, Denmark on October 1, or Norway again on October 4. Selection, Jesus said, will be determined by current form and performance. Not reputation, not legacy, not the weight of a name that has defined Portuguese football for two decades. The coach took over on July 10, 2026, afte...