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Portugal manager Jorge Jesus confirmed Cristiano Ronaldo will be in the lineup against Norway on Sunday, though his show of support also served as a gentle challenge to his star player.
Ronaldo, who has openly acknowledged he contemplated hanging up his boots after the 2026 World Cup, continues to lead Portugal at the age of 41. Debate persists over whether the five-time Ballon d'Or recipient is a hindrance to the national side, a conversation that intensified following the team's unconvincing 1–0 victory over Wales on Thursday.
Ronaldo endured another frustrating evening in attack, managing only two shots on target from seven attempts before being substituted in the 67th minute. Nevertheless, Jesus stood by his skipper, who also saw a goal disallowed for offside, ahead of Portugal's UEFA Nations League fixture against Norway.
"Against Wales we had 15 shots inside the area, seven of which were from Ronaldo," Jesus said. "Of those seven, two were on target. He had seven shot-goal interventions. Compared to the last few games he played, that's a lot.
"He can do better, obviously. He came close to scoring a goal. He played 65 minutes and I'm still going to see how he is ... Cris knows his body better than anyone and, if he doesn't start, he'll come on."
Ronaldo vs. Haaland Will Happen
Whether Ronaldo begins from the first whistle or enters as a substitute on Sunday, he is set to share the field with Erling Haaland for the very first time. The Norwegian star is widely regarded as the most lethal center-forward on the planet today — a title once synonymous with Ronaldo in his heyday.
These days, it is Haaland who sends shivers down the spines of defenders worldwide. The Manchester City forward netted seven goals at the 2026 World Cup and wasted no time in the September-October international window, bagging a brace against Denmark.
At just 26 years old, Haaland has already amassed 64 goals across 56 international appearances. While those figures still fall well short of Ronaldo's extraordinary record of 146 goals in 234 caps, the Norwegian is undeniably closing the gap on the legendary five-time Ballon d'Or winner.
Sunday's encounter promises to be a captivating spectacle as the greatest goalscorer in football history goes head-to-head with the man many believe will one day inherit that crown.
Ronaldo Chasing Legendary First Before Retirement
Ronaldo would relish the chance to get his name on the scoresheet against Norway, both to quiet his doubters and to steal the spotlight from Haaland. Yet his deeper motivation is almost certainly his relentless pursuit of 1,000 career goals.
Becoming the first player in documented football history to reach that landmark would enshrine Ronaldo's legacy in the sport forever. He may never have lifted a World Cup trophy, but achieving a record that could stand untouched for generations — perhaps indefinitely — would be a fitting testament to his extraordinary career.
Currently sitting at 979 career goals, Ronaldo requires just 21 more to reach the historic 1,000-goal milestone. The Portugal captain has previously stated that this record, alongside claiming a third UEFA Nations League title, represents the final two ambitions driving him forward.
It would carry far greater symbolic weight for Ronaldo to reach that milestone while wearing the Portugal shirt rather than Al Nassr's colors, but only time will reveal which jersey he has on when he finds the net for the 1,000th time.