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Cristiano Ronaldo could return to the Portugal national team after his dramatic departure from camp amid his disagreement with head coach Jorge Jesus.
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Portuguese journalist Miguel Pereira believes “bridges are being built” between Ronaldo’s camp, Jesus and the Portuguese Football Federation.
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Ronaldo is reportedly keen to reach the 1,000-goal milestone with Portugal as part of what could be his final international appearance for the country.
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Portugal have continued without Ronaldo, beating Denmark 4-2, while Rafael Leão wore the No. 7 shirt previously associated with the veteran forward.
October 04, (THEWILL) – Cristiano Ronaldo’s turbulent relationship with the Portugal national team could be heading towards an unexpected reconciliation, with reports suggesting the veteran forward may return for one final international chapter as he closes in on the historic 1,000-goal milestone.
Ronaldo’s future with Portugal appeared increasingly uncertain after he dramatically left the national-team camp last week following a disagreement with new head coach, Jorge Jesus.
The 41-year-old had been an unused substitute during Portugal’s 2-1 victory over Norway and had spent an extended period warming up without being introduced.
The situation escalated after the match, leading to an emergency meeting involving Ronaldo, Jesus and Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proença.
Although the meeting initially appeared to have eased tensions, Jesus subsequently reiterated that he would remain in control of team selection.
Ronaldo then left the camp and travelled to Madrid, later releasing a statement promising to explain why he had departed.
“I will tell all the Portuguese about the reasons that motivated my departure from the national team”, Ronaldo said.
At the time, the episode appeared to place his international future in serious doubt.
However, the situation may now be moving in a different direction.
Ronaldo Could Return For One Final Portugal Appearance
According to Portuguese journalist, Miguel Pereira, there is growing optimism that Ronaldo could eventually return to the national team.
Speaking to talkSPORT, Pereira suggested that discussions between the various parties may already be helping to repair the relationship.
“The bridges are being built between Cristiano and Jesus’ camps”, Pereira said, adding that the Portuguese Football Federation is also interested in bringing Ronaldo back.
He believes Ronaldo could return to the national team for what may effectively become his international farewell.
“I do think that Cristiano will be back for a last dance with the Portuguese side later next year”, Pereira added.
The possibility would represent a remarkable turnaround considering how quickly the situation deteriorated.
Only days earlier, Ronaldo had walked away from the squad, while Portugal subsequently produced a convincing performance without their captain.
Portugal Showed They Can Win Without Ronaldo
The immediate test for Jesus came against Denmark.
With Ronaldo absent, Portugal produced an emphatic 4-2 victory, with João Cancelo, Gonçalo Ramos, Vitinha and João Félix getting on the scoresheet.
The result demonstrated that Portugal possesses enough attacking quality to compete without their long-serving captain.
It also gave Jesus some backing for his decision to leave Ronaldo out of the starting XI.
But the victory has not necessarily closed the door on Ronaldo’s return.
Instead, it may have given both sides an opportunity to take a step back from the immediate dispute.
Portugal can continue developing a team capable of competing without Ronaldo while still potentially finding a place for him when the circumstances are right.
For Ronaldo, meanwhile, a return would allow him to pursue an achievement that could become one of the defining moments of the final stage of his career.
Ronaldo’s 1,000-Goal Ambition
The biggest motivation behind a potential return could be Ronaldo’s pursuit of 1,000 career goals.
Pereira claims Ronaldo is still determined to reach the landmark and would like to celebrate the achievement while representing Portugal.
“The thing is that 21 goals that he needs to score”, Pereira said, referring to the number Ronaldo reportedly needs to reach the milestone.
According to the journalist, Ronaldo had hoped to score the remaining goals during his club campaign with Al-Nassr before completing the achievement with Portugal.
“He really wanted to score the last one with Portugal”, Pereira noted.
The idea would allow Ronaldo to turn the milestone into a major celebration involving the country where his international career began more than two decades ago.
Pereira compared Ronaldo’s ambition to Pelé’s famous celebration surrounding his own 1,000th career goal.
“He really wanted to throw up a party that celebrates himself, his ego, his history with the national side”, he said.
Whether Ronaldo can achieve that objective remains uncertain.
But the possibility adds another layer to the ongoing saga.
The No. 7 Shirt Has Already Changed Hands
Ronaldo’s potential return would also come after Portugal made a significant decision in his absence.
During the 4-2 victory over Denmark, AC Milan forward Rafael Leão wore Portugal’s iconic No. 7 shirt.
The number had become almost synonymous with Ronaldo during his extraordinary international career.
Seeing another player wear it immediately fuelled further speculation about whether Portugal were beginning to move beyond their captain.
Yet if Pereira’s prediction proves correct, Leão’s temporary use of the shirt may not necessarily represent the end of Ronaldo’s association with Portugal.
A return for one final campaign could see Ronaldo once again take centre stage for the national team.
Ronaldo’s Departure Was Not The Only One
The controversy surrounding Ronaldo also produced another notable development.
Portuguese newspaper Record reported that Antonio Costa, a member of Portugal’s backroom staff responsible for kit and equipment, also left the training camp.
Costa has reportedly been described as a kind of personal assistant to Ronaldo.
The report claimed he was ordered to pack his belongings and leave alongside the forward.
The development suggests that the fallout surrounding Ronaldo’s departure extended beyond the player himself, although the full circumstances behind Costa’s exit remain unclear.
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The Road Back Is Not Guaranteed
Despite the growing optimism, Ronaldo’s return should not be treated as confirmed.
There has been no official announcement that the forward has reconciled with Jesus or that he has been selected for a future Portugal squad.
The claims currently point towards the possibility of reconciliation rather than a completed agreement.
Much could still change before Ronaldo returns to international duty.
The relationship between the player and Jesus remains central to the situation.
Jesus has already demonstrated that he is prepared to make difficult decisions regarding Ronaldo’s involvement, while the forward has shown that he is willing to walk away when he believes the situation is unacceptable.
Any return would, therefore, require both sides to move beyond the events that led to his departure.
One Final Chapter?
For now, Ronaldo’s Portugal story remains unfinished.
He has not announced his international retirement, despite the dramatic circumstances surrounding his departure.
Portugal, meanwhile, have already demonstrated that they can produce results without him.
But the possibility of reconciliation means the veteran forward may yet have another opportunity to represent the country he has led for more than two decades.
If Pereira’s prediction proves accurate, Ronaldo could return not simply to add more appearances or goals to his extraordinary international record, but to chase the most symbolic milestone of his career.
With 1,000 goals within reach, the prospect of Ronaldo celebrating that achievement in a Portugal shirt could provide the veteran forward with the farewell he appears to want.
For a player whose international career has already delivered European Championship glory, Nations League success and countless records, one final appearance could offer an ending worthy of the story.
For now, however, the key phrase remains “bridges are being built.”
Ronaldo has not returned yet.
But after the events of the past week, the possibility of one final Portugal chapter is suddenly looking much more realistic.
Olumide Atiba is a sports journalist with THEWILL, known for his keen news sense and compelling storytelling. He has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, well-structured reports that resonate with readers, with a strong focus on football coverage
