Will Ronaldo start against Haaland's Norway? Portugal coach gives honest answer

Portugal coach Jorge Jesus has revealed he has not yet decided whether Cristiano Ronaldo will start or play as a substitute against Erling Haaland's Norway in the Nations League on Sunday. The 41-year-old Ronaldo played 65 minutes in Portugal's 1-0 victory over Wales on Thursday but failed to score. He netted two goals against Wales but was ruled offside both times.

Ronaldo received a warm reception, with 55,000 fans turning up despite his absence. Jesus believes Ronaldo can perform better but stresses the importance of assessing his condition given his age. "Cris, whether we like it or not, is not Joao Neves. He is not 20 years old," Jesus stated. The coach added that Ronaldo is the best person to decide his availability based on his body's current state.

However, it is clear that Ronaldo will feature in the match, either as a starter or a substitute. This means the possibility of Ronaldo and Haaland sharing the pitch in Oslo remains open. Jesus also praised Haaland, calling him possibly the best center forward in the world currently and highlighting his physical strength and technical skill.

Norway began their Nations League campaign with a win over Denmark, while Portugal secured a 1-0 win over Wales in Jesus' first match as coach. The Norway vs Portugal match is scheduled to begin at 10:45 PM UAE time.