Ronaldo Starts New Portugal Era as Jorge Jesus Faces Wales in Nations League Opener

Cristiano Ronaldo will lead Portugal into a new era on Thursday night when the reigning UEFA Nations League champions host Wales in Lisbon, with the 41-year-old superstar chasing more international goals and the historic 1,000-goal milestone.

The Group A4 encounter at the Estádio José Alvalade will also mark the first competitive match for new Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus, who replaced Roberto Martínez following Portugal’s elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Kick-off is scheduled for 6:45pm GMT (7:45pm Portugal time) on Thursday, September 24.

Ronaldo’s 1,000-Goal Chase Continues

Ronaldo enters the match with 979 career goals, including 833 at club level and 146 for Portugal.

That leaves him 21 goals short of the 1,000-goal landmark he has openly targeted.

Speaking at the Portugal Football Summit on Wednesday, Ronaldo said he wants to achieve both objectives: reaching 1,000 career goals and helping Portugal defend their Nations League crown.

The Portuguese captain also stressed that he is not treating the milestone as an obsession, saying his priority is to continue enjoying football and contributing to the national team.

For Ronaldo, reaching 1,000 goals while wearing Portugal’s shirt would represent a particularly significant moment in his international career.

Jorge Jesus Confirms Ronaldo Will Start

Much of the pre-match attention has centred on whether Ronaldo would be selected by Jesus following speculation over his international future.

That question has now been answered.

Jesus said that, barring an unexpected development in training, Ronaldo would start against Wales.

The new coach has nevertheless made it clear that Ronaldo’s reputation alone will not guarantee his place in the team.

Jesus previously said that performance would determine selection, while acknowledging Ronaldo’s unique status within Portuguese football.

The pair already know each other well from their time together at Al-Nassr, where Jesus coached Ronaldo before taking over the Portugal job.

A New Era After World Cup Disappointment

Portugal enter the Nations League following a disappointing 2026 World Cup campaign.

The Seleção were eliminated by eventual champions Spain in the Round of 16, bringing Martínez’s tenure to an end.

Jesus was appointed in July and now begins the task of reshaping a squad containing established stars such as Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Rúben Dias and Vitinha alongside younger talents.

Portugal are also the defending Nations League champions, having defeated Spain on penalties in the 2025 final after a 2-2 draw.

The tournament therefore offers Jesus an immediate opportunity to begin his tenure with a major international objective.

Wales Return to League A

Wales arrive in Lisbon after earning promotion back to League A during the previous Nations League campaign.

Craig Bellamy’s side will face one of the strongest teams in the competition in their opening fixture but will look to use their pace and attacking options to trouble the hosts.

Brennan Johnson, David Brooks and Daniel James are among the attacking players expected to carry the threat for Wales.

However, the Dragons have suffered several injury setbacks ahead of the game.

Harry Wilson, Nathan Broadhead and goalkeeper Karl Darlow have withdrawn from the squad, while Joe Rodon, Dylan Lawlor, Rubin Colwill and Isaak Davies are also unavailable.

Portugal vs Wales: A Rivalry Renewed

Thursday’s meeting will be the first between the nations since their famous Euro 2016 semi-final.

Portugal won that encounter 2-0, with Ronaldo and Nani scoring the goals that sent Portugal into the final.

Portugal subsequently went on to win the European Championship.

Overall, the two nations have met four times, with Portugal winning three and Wales claiming one victory.

Their previous meetings were:

• 1949: Portugal 3-2 Wales — friendly
• 1951: Wales 2-1 Portugal — friendly
• 2000: Portugal 3-0 Wales — friendly
• 2016: Portugal 2-0 Wales — Euro 2016 semi-final

The 2016 encounter remains the only previous competitive meeting between the nations.

Portugal’s Star-Studded Squad

Jesus has selected a strong 25-man squad for Portugal’s Nations League campaign.

The group includes:

Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Vitinha, João Neves, Rúben Dias, João Cancelo, Nuno Mendes, Rafael Leão, João Félix, Pedro Neto and Gonçalo Ramos.

The squad also contains several players who previously worked with Jesus, giving the new manager a blend of familiarity and established international experience.

Portugal Predicted Line-up

Diogo Costa; João Cancelo, Rúben Dias, Renato Veiga, Nuno Mendes; Vitinha, João Neves; Pedro Neto, Bruno Fernandes, João Félix; Cristiano Ronaldo.

Jesus’ comments indicate Ronaldo is expected to lead the attack from the start, although the final XI will only be confirmed shortly before kick-off.

Wales Predicted Line-up

Danny Ward; Neco Williams, Chris Mepham, Joe Cabango, Norrington-Davies; Ethan Ampadu, Jordan James; David Brooks, Jordan James/Thomas, Brennan Johnson; Daniel James.

Wales’ final selection will depend on Bellamy’s tactical approach and the players available following the latest injury withdrawals.

Nations League Format

Portugal and Wales are competing in League A, where 16 teams are divided into four groups.

The top two teams from each group progress to the quarter-finals, which will be played over two legs in March.

The four quarter-final winners then advance to the Nations League Finals in June 2027.

Portugal will therefore need to navigate a demanding group that also includes Norway and Denmark.

Match Details

🇵🇹 Portugal vs Wales 🏴

Competition: UEFA Nations League — League A, Group A4
Date: Thursday, September 24, 2026
Kick-off: 6:45pm GMT / 7:45pm Portugal time
Venue: Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon
Key storyline: Cristiano Ronaldo’s first competitive match under Jorge Jesus
Portugal: Defending Nations League champions
Wales: Newly promoted to League A

African360 Sports Analysis

This match represents two different stories.

For Portugal, it is the beginning of the Jorge Jesus era and an opportunity to immediately put the disappointment of the World Cup behind them.

For Ronaldo, it is another chapter in an international career that has already produced an extraordinary 146 goals for Portugal.

The 1,000-goal target will inevitably dominate headlines, but the more immediate issue is how effectively Jesus can build a team capable of competing for another Nations League title.

Wales, meanwhile, have a difficult opening assignment after returning to League A. Their ability to absorb Portugal’s possession and exploit spaces on the counter could be crucial.

The spotlight will inevitably fall on Ronaldo.

At 41, with 979 career goals and a new coach beside him, Thursday’s match offers another reminder that the Portugal captain is not ready to quietly leave the international stage just yet.

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