Portugal rings changes after Ronaldo's retirement
Jorge Jesus has announced his first Portugal squad since Cristiano Ronaldo's retirement from international football, with seven changes made to its latest UEFA Nations League party.
Ronaldo brought the curtain down on his glittering international career earlier during the week, leaving as the leading scorer and appearance-maker in the history of men's international football.
The 41-year-old scored 146 goals in 234 games after making his debut for Portugal in 2003, while also leading the team to its first major trophy at UEFA Euro 2016.
He also lifted the UEFA Nations League trophy twice in 2019 and 2025, and after Portugal's Round of 16 exit at this year's FIFA World Cup, many expected Ronaldo to hang up his boots.
Instead, he was convinced to stay on by the FPF (Portuguese Football Federation), only to leave the Portugal camp during the most recent international window after being left on the bench during a win over Norway in the UEFA Nations League.
Ronaldo was subsequently given a 30-day suspension by the FPF, but ahead of this month's meetings with Denmark and Norway, he decided to walk away from the national team, with FPF president Pedro Proenca promising to celebrate Ronaldo's contribution in the future.
"No tribute will ever be enough to thank him for everything he has done for Portuguese football, for Portugal," Proenca said ahead the squad announcement.
"We will do everything we can to honour the legacy he leaves us. Everything he has done deserves to be honoured and celebrated."
Jesus has made seven changes to his UEFA Nations League squad, with Alberto Costa, Antonio Silva, Matheus Fernandes, Carlos Forbs, Geovany Quenda, Rodrigo Mora and Gustavo Varela all included in his 26-man group.
Francisco Conceicao misses out owing to the three-match suspension UEFA handed him after his red card against Norway, while Paris Saint-Germain full-back Nuno Mendes is out injured. Goncalo Inacio is another absentee.
There are first senior call-ups for Costa and Varela, while Mora and Quenda will both be aiming to play their first match for Portugal, having previously been involved under Roberto Martinez, but failing to earn caps.
Portugal boasts a perfect record in the UEFA Nations League, winning its first four games to guarantee a quarter-final place. It needs just one point to clinch top spot in the group.
It faces Denmark on 15 November (AEDT) before making the trip to Cardiff City Stadium to face Craig Bellamy's Wales three days later.
Portugal squad:
Diogo Costa (Porto), Rui Silva (Sporting), Samuel Soares (Benfica); Joao Cancelo (Barcelona), Diogo Dalot (Manchester United), Alberto Costa (Porto), Ruben Dias (Manchester City), Renato Veiga (Villarreal), Tomas Araujo (Benfica), Antonio Silva (Bournemouth), Nuno Tavares (Lazio); Ruben Neves (Al-Hilal), Joao Palhinha (Benfica), Matheus Fernandes (Tottenham Hotspur), Joao Neves (Paris Saint-Germain), Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Bernardo Silva (Real Madrid); Pedro Neto (Chelsea), Rodrigo Mora (Roma), Francisco Trincao (Al-Ahli), Rafael Leao (Galatasaray), Geovany Quenda (Chelsea), Carlos Forbs (Club Brugge), Joao Felix (Al-Nassr), Goncalo Ramos (AC Milan), Fabio Silva (Borussia Dortmund), Gustavo Varela (Monza).
Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro
Portugal
