Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus has said Cristiano Ronaldo can return to the national team if he wants to, describing the dispute that led to the captain leaving camp as a misunderstanding that can be easily resolved.

Jesus was speaking after Portugal's 2-1 win over Norway in Porto on 4 October. The result made Portugal the first team to reach the quarter-finals of the 2026-27 UEFA Nations League.

Asked about Ronaldo's future, Jesus told Portuguese media that everything remains open and that Ronaldo must decide before the next call-up, according to A Bola. “Cris is the one who's going to decide,” he told reporters.

What Jesus Said About Ronaldo Returning

Jesus tied Ronaldo's return to his club form. He said the forward could be called up in November if he is playing for Al-Nassr and wants to return to the national team. Jesus also said the two could speak before the squad is announced.

Jesus said he told Ronaldo during his first call-up that he needed him in the group, whether he was playing or not, and repeated the same message after the latest dispute.

He also said Ronaldo should decide how he wants to end his time with the national team. Jesus had previously rejected suggestions that he should apologise.

Separately, one report from A Bola said Jesus plans to include Ronaldo in the November squad and that the player is aware of the plan. The report came from a single source and has not been confirmed by the Portuguese Football Federation.

Portugal will host Denmark on 14 November before travelling to Wales three days later for their final group match.

How Ronaldo's Portugal Dispute Developed

Ronaldo, 41, played in Portugal's 1-0 win over Wales on 24 September. He stayed on the bench for the whole of the 2-1 win in Norway on 27 September.

On 30 September, after Jesus told reporters in Copenhagen that Ronaldo would not start against Denmark, Ronaldo announced on Instagram that he was leaving Portugal's training camp. He said he would tell Portuguese fans the truth about his reasons "in due time".

He has not yet done so. Portugal won 4-2 in Denmark on 1 October before beating Norway at the Estádio do Dragão four days later. The results gave Jesus four wins from four games since taking charge of Portugal after the World Cup.

Gonçalo Ramos, who has taken Ronaldo's place in attack, has scored three goals during the window. Ronaldo holds Portugal's records for caps and goals, with 146 goals in 234 appearances.

Where the Squad and Federation Stand

Before the Norway game, Bruno Fernandes said the squad was above the controversy and called Ronaldo the team's “biggest icon”, according to AFP.

Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proença also described the episode as a misunderstanding that should be resolved internally.

Federation disciplinary rules, as quoted by ESPN, state that a player who leaves national team duty without justification can be suspended for one to six months and fined between €500 and €1,000. No sanction against Ronaldo has been reported.