Portugal head coach
The announcement was made at the Cidade do Futebol in Oeiras on Friday, as Jesus unveiled a 28-man squad for Portugal’s upcoming
A New Era for the National Side
Addressing the media, Jorge Jesus clarified that the selection of the captaincy follows a long-standing internal policy based on the number of international appearances. With Ronaldo no longer available, the responsibility falls to the player with the next highest tally of caps.
“In the national team, the coach doesn’t choose the captains; they are chosen by their caps,” Jesus explained. “The logic will stay the same. The player with the most caps after Cris is Bernardo Silva.”
The 32-year-old Silva, who currently plays for Real Madrid, leads the group with 115 international appearances. He is followed in the leadership hierarchy by Bruno Fernandes (97 caps), Rúben Dias (84), João Cancelo (77), and Rúben Neves (73). Jesus noted that all five players in the leadership group have previously played under his management at the club level.
Transitioning Beyond the Ronaldo Era
The departure of Cristiano Ronaldo marks the end of an era for Portuguese football. Ronaldo, who famously led the nation to their first major international trophy at Euro 2016, leaves behind a complex legacy. While he was instrumental in the 2016 triumph—despite being substituted early in the final against France—his tenure also saw several challenging moments on the global stage.
These included a group-stage exit at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, a semi-final defeat to Spain at Euro 2012, and various knockout-stage departures in 2018, 2022, and 2026. Jesus admitted that the retirement came as a surprise, revealing that he had intended to include the veteran forward in the current squad and only learned of the decision through the player's farewell video.
Looking ahead, the coach expressed confidence in the new captain, highlighting Silva’s extensive experience and current form at the club level. As Portugal prepares for their final Nations League group matches, the focus now shifts to how the squad will adapt to life without their long-time talisman.
