Ronaldo’s final Portugal appearance set for coaching change after Jorge Jesus dispute

Cristiano Ronaldo is set to have a new manager on the Portugal bench for his international farewell after Jorge Jesus was ruled out of taking charge, according to a report by ESPN.

Ronaldo, 41, announced on Thursday that he would leave the Portugal national team following a serious disagreement with Jesus. However, he will not depart immediately and is expected to play one final match to bring his international career to a close.

The proposed farewell would mark the end of more than two decades with Portugal. Ronaldo has scored 146 goals in 234 appearances for his country during that time.

Portugal are scheduled to face Denmark on 14 November 2026 in the Nations League – League A, with the fixture expected to provide the setting for Ronaldo’s final appearance.

Jesus is not expected to lead the side for that match because of the breakdown in his relationship with Ronaldo, ESPN reported.

Instead, former Brazil manager Luiz Felipe Scolari could return to the Portugal dugout. Scolari gave Ronaldo his senior international debut in 2003 and worked with him during the early years of his Portugal career.

Ronaldo developed a close relationship with Scolari, who supported the forward after the death of his father when Ronaldo was 20.

A return for former Portugal manager Fernando Santos has been ruled out, despite his previous success with Ronaldo. Santos managed the team from 2014 to 2022 and oversaw Portugal’s victory at UEFA Euro 2016.

The relationship between Santos and Ronaldo later deteriorated after the manager left him on the substitutes’ bench during the 2022 World Cup.

Ronaldo’s departure would bring an end to one of the longest international careers in football, although his final match has yet to be confirmed in detail. The Portugal-Denmark fixture remains the scheduled occasion for the forward to say goodbye to the national team.