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RONALDO MAY CHANGE HIS MIND ON PLAYING FOR PORTUGAL AS FORMER AL-NASSR COACH TAKES NATIONAL TEAM JOB

Cristiano Ronaldo's international future may have taken an unexpected turn following the appointment of his former Al-Nassr coach, Jorge Jesus, as the new head coach of the Portuguese national team.
The appointment comes shortly after Portugal's disappointing exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the departure of former coach Roberto Martínez. The Portuguese Football Federation has moved quickly to install the experienced Portuguese tactician as the man to lead the Seleção into the next cycle, including the UEFA Euro 2028 campaign and preparations for the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
Jorge Jesus and Ronaldo enjoyed a successful partnership at Saudi Pro League champions Al-Nassr, where the veteran striker played a central role in the club's title-winning campaign under the coach's leadership. Their strong working relationship has already sparked speculation that Ronaldo could reconsider any plans to step away from international football.
At 41 years old, Ronaldo remains Portugal's captain and all-time leading scorer. Although the football icon has yet to publicly confirm whether he will continue representing his country, reports in Portugal suggest that the arrival of Jesus could persuade him to extend his international career, potentially with an eye on UEFA Euro 2028.
The reunion between player and coach is being viewed by many supporters as an opportunity for Portugal to maximize the experience of one of football's greatest-ever players while guiding a new generation of Portuguese talent.
For now, Ronaldo's future in the national team remains his decision alone. However, with a familiar face now occupying the Portugal dugout, the possibility of seeing the legendary forward in Portuguese colours once again appears stronger than ever.

FIFA WORLD CUP:
Now We Know Why FIFA Is Protecting the Big Teams
Written By Festus Yele Alemede
For The Trumpet News Online Sports Desk
The debate surrounding the influence of football's biggest nations at the FIFA World Cup has taken another dramatic twist following a sharp collapse in resale ticket prices after the exits of some of the tournament's biggest attractions.
Resale ticket prices for several upcoming matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup reportedly dropped significantly after the elimination of football giants Portugal and the United States from the competition.
According to market data reported by Forbes, prices on the secondary ticket market plunged by nearly 60 percent for certain knockout matches following the departure of the two nations from the tournament.
The development has reignited discussions among football fans and analysts who believe that FIFA has a strong commercial interest in ensuring that football's traditional powerhouses and globally marketable teams remain in the competition for as long as possible.
Portugal, driven by the global appeal of superstar captain Cristiano Ronaldo, and the United States, one of the host nations and a major commercial market for football, attracted huge demand from supporters and neutral fans alike. Their presence translated into increased ticket sales, television audiences, sponsorship value, and global media attention.
With both nations now out of the tournament, market demand for tickets appears to have weakened considerably, exposing the extent to which major football brands influence the commercial value of the competition.
Critics argue that such figures demonstrate why allegations of favourable treatment towards football's elite nations continue to surface whenever controversial refereeing decisions dominate headlines.
However, there is currently no evidence that FIFA manipulates match outcomes or refereeing decisions to protect particular teams. Football authorities have consistently maintained that match officials operate independently under strict regulations and oversight mechanisms.
Nevertheless, the dramatic fall in resale prices has highlighted an undeniable reality of modern football: the biggest teams and biggest stars remain the tournament's biggest drivers of business.
As the 2026 FIFA World Cup moves towards its decisive stages, the question being asked by many supporters around the world remains: Is global football driven purely by sporting merit, or has commercial value become too important to ignore?
The Trumpet News Online will continue to monitor developments from the 2026 FIFA World Cup as the tournament enters its final rounds

IS FIFA COCKING ANOTHER WORLD CUP FOR MESSI-ARGENTINA?

LET'S SHOW HIM RESPECT & LOVE. HE DESERVES MORE...
His achievements speak volumes:

TROPHIES:
Cristiano Ronaldo has won 35 senior official trophies throughout his legendary career for both club and country
Major Individual Awards

• 5x Ballon d'Or: Won in 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017.

• 2x FIFA The Best Men's Player: Awarded during the inaugural years of the honor (2016, 2017).

• 1x FIFA World Player of the Year (2008).

• 4x European Golden Shoe: Awarded to Europe's top domestic scorer (2007–08, 2010–11, 2013–14, 2014–15).

• 4x UEFA Men's Player of the Year / Club Footballer of the Year: (2008, 2014, 2016, 2017).

The Ultimate Goalscoring Records:
Ronaldo is officially recognized by FIFA as the highest goalscorer in the history of football, currently sitting on a staggering 976 senior career goals for club and country.

• Most International Goals: 146 goals in 233 appearances for Portugal.

• All-Time UEFA Champions League Top Scorer: 140 goals across his stints with Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus.

• Most Goals in a Single Champions League Season: 17 goals during Real Madrid's 2013–14 campaign.

• All-Time UEFA European Championship Top Scorer: 14 goals scored across final tournaments.

Historic Longevity & World Cup Records:
Following the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Ronaldo solidified his status as an immortal figure of the tournament:

• The 6-World Cup Milestone: He became the first player in football history to score in six different FIFA World Cups (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, and 2026) after netting goals against Uzbekistan and Croatia.

• Portugal's World Cup King: With 11 career World Cup goals, he surpassed the legendary Eusébio (9 goals) to become Portugal's all-time leading scorer at the tournament.

• Knockout History: At 41 years and 147 days old, his penalty against Croatia made him the oldest player to ever score in a World Cup knockout match.

• Most International Caps: The most capped male international player ever, with 233 appearances.

End of the road for the legend. You did not win the World Cup as a player, but you will surely win it as a coach. Thank you CR7

WHO IS WRONG, FIFA OR TRUMP?