Will the 41-year-old continue to play for Portugal and will the former club manager replace Roberto Martinez?

Cristiano Ronaldo will have a familiar face in charge of Portugal if he chooses to continue his international career.

The reports that spread in Portugal on Tuesday confirmed that Jorge Jesus is the one who will step into the shoes of Roberto Martinez, who stood down last night following the exit of this team from Spain in the World Cup.

Martinez’s contract was due to expire after the tournament and the Spaniard is leaving as he failed in his bid to win Portugal’s first major trophy since they won Euro 2016 in France.

That task will now be entrusted to Jesus, who is a free worker after leaving Al-Nassr.

With Ronaldo as captain, Al-Nassr won the Saudi Pro League last season to give the former Real Madrid and Manchester United player his first major trophy since moving to the Middle East in 2023.

Jesus said in May that his only reason for taking the job at the Riyadh team was to help his countryman raise silver.

He said: “When I received the invitation from [Al Nassr CEO José] Semedo and Cris [Cristiano Ronaldo]I accepted this challenge only to help Cris win titles in Saudi Arabia. That was my intention.

“Every title is different and for Al-Nassr’s nation, and for Cris as well, it is important. Especially for what he has done not only for Saudi Arabian football but also for Nassr.”

Ronaldo leaves the World Cup stage with a ‘clear conscience’ after Portugal’s exit from the World Cup

It is still possible for Ronaldo to retire from Portugal after playing 233 games but he has vowed to take his time and not rush into a decision after last night’s disappointment in Dallas.

He told the media that: “I am saddened to leave the World Cup in this way, as I said yesterday, I gave everything, I go with a clear conscience, that is the life of a football player must go forward.

“It was my last World Cup, yes. But as for the others, there is time to think, to be with my family, and I can say things in the heat.”

Martinez hails Ronaldo as ‘role model’

The departing Martinez paid tribute to Ronaldo after sticking with the veteran rather than turning to the younger Goncalo Ramos.

“He has been an exemplary captain,” he said.

“I came with Portugal at a time when there was confusion and doubts about Cristiano. He was a good example, not only with goals and assists, what he does in the box, his dedication, how he deals with the ball. He is an example, we must celebrate him.

“We are talking about an image in football. There are not many Cristiano Ronaldo. We must thank him for what he did in this World Cup, he wanted to win it, as a player, captain, in terms of people, we will all go with him forever. For example, as the person behind the player.”

Susu hits Ronaldo and Martinez

Martinez drew criticism for playing Ronaldo for the full 90 minutes against Spain, rather than bringing Ramos off the bench, with BBC 5 Live commentator Chris Sutton accusing the former Belgium boss of “indulging in Ronaldo” and saying the striker “walked around the pitch like a grandchild”.

But Martinez said Ronaldo’s record means he should stay on the pitch.

“If you’re a team and you need a goal, you can’t take out Cristiano Ronaldo,” added Martinez. “He is able to play for 90 minutes, there is no problem, he is a presence, he creates space for us, the dead ball situation, anything in the box, will not be heard.

“In extra time it would have made sense to use Goncalo Ramos. We had to keep the structure, it wasn’t like we had to send off the top scorer in 90 minutes.”