Cristiano Ronaldo is in line for a return to the Portugal national team after being included in the country’s preliminary squad for next month’s UEFA Nations League matches, following his highly publicized dispute with head coach Jorge Jesus.
The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) confirmed on Tuesday that the 41-year-old Al-Nassr forward was being considered for the upcoming fixtures against Denmark and Wales on November 14 and 17 respectively.
The final squad is expected to be announced by Jesus on November 6.
Ronaldo’s potential return comes after he abruptly left Portugal’s training camp on September 30 following disagreements with the coach over his role in the team.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner accused Jesus of breaking promises about giving him playing time, claiming he had been assured of an opportunity to feature against Norway before being left out.
He also expressed dissatisfaction with the coach’s handling of their disagreement during a subsequent press conference, saying certain matters they had agreed upon were not addressed.
The incident sparked uncertainty over Ronaldo’s international future, although the veteran striker later apologized to supporters and team-mates while insisting he had no intention of retiring from international football.
The Portuguese federation subsequently imposed a 30-day suspension on Ronaldo for leaving the national camp without authorization. However, the punishment was backdated to the date of the incident, making him eligible for selection ahead of the November fixtures.
Despite the controversy, Portugal have continued their impressive Nations League campaign, winning all four of their matches and securing qualification for the quarter-finals with two games to spare.
Three of those victories came without Ronaldo in the team.
The forward remains Portugal’s all-time leading goalscorer and record appearance-holder in men’s international football, having scored 146 goals in 234 appearances for his country.
His possible return is expected to attract significant attention as Portugal prepare for their remaining group fixtures and the next stage of the competition.
However, Ronaldo’s inclusion in the preliminary squad does not guarantee his selection in the final team, leaving his return dependent on Jesus’ final decision.
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