Ronaldo's inclusion in the team has been met with interest, as the five-time Ballon d'Or winner had hinted at retiring from international football after the World Cup. However, Jesus has made it clear that Ronaldo's past achievements will not affect his selection, stating that "only his performances are important." The coach added that Ronaldo will be given the opportunity to play if he performs well, but will be dropped if he doesn't.
NOS Voetbal reports that Ronaldo is currently playing for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia and is hoping to reach the milestone of 1,000 goals. He currently stands at 979 goals. The Portuguese national team will face Wales, Norway, and Denmark in the upcoming Nations League matches.
Meanwhile, the US national team has also announced its squad for the upcoming international matches, featuring 28 players, including eight teenagers. Cavan Sullivan, a 16-year-old player from Philadelphia Union, has been called up for the first time. Sullivan made his professional debut in the MLS at the age of 14, breaking the record held by Freddy Adu, who made his debut at 14 in 2004. Sullivan will be looking to make his mark on the international stage, potentially debuting before Christian Pulisic, who is also part of the US team.
The US team will be playing friendly matches against Peru, Chile, Mexico, and Canada. PSV players Sergiño Dest and Ricardo Pepi have also been selected for the team.