SNOW TV NEWS DESK
Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus has made seven changes to his latest squad as the national team prepares for life without Cristiano Ronaldo, following the legendary forward’s retirement from international football.
Jesus unveiled his first 28-man squad since Ronaldo announced his decision to end his international career earlier this week, marking the beginning of a new chapter for Portuguese football.
Ronaldo, 41, walks away from international football as Portugal’s all-time leading goalscorer and most-capped player, having scored 146 goals in 234 appearances since making his senior debut in 2003.
His remarkable international career included helping Portugal win their first major international trophy at Euro 2016, alongside two UEFA Nations League titles in 2019 and 2025. His departure leaves a significant gap in the national team, both in terms of experience and leadership.
The forward’s retirement reportedly followed a difficult period within the national setup. After initially deciding to continue representing Portugal following their World Cup round-of-16 exit, his international future became uncertain after he was dropped to the bench for a Nations League victory over Norway.
He reportedly left the national team camp following the decision and subsequently received a 30-day suspension from the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) before announcing his retirement ahead of the November fixtures.
Meanwhile, Jesus appears ready to begin reshaping the squad, handing opportunities to seven new players: Alberto Costa, António Silva, Matheus Fernandes, Carlos Forbs, Geovany Quenda, Rodrigo Mora, and Gustavo Varela.
Costa and Varela have earned their first senior call-ups, while Quenda and Mora will be hoping to make their senior international debuts after previously being included in squads under former coach Roberto Martinez.
Portugal will, however, be without several players for the upcoming matches. Francisco Conceição is suspended for three games following his red card against Norway, while Paris Saint-Germain defender Nuno Mendes is unavailable through injury. Gonçalo Inácio has also been omitted from the squad.
Despite the changes, Portugal remain in a strong position in their Nations League group, having won all four opening matches and already secured qualification for the quarter-finals. One more point will guarantee them top spot.
Jesus’ side will face Denmark at home on November 14 before travelling to Cardiff to take on Wales on November 17.
With Ronaldo’s international chapter now closed, attention will turn to how Portugal’s younger generation responds to the responsibility of carrying the national team forward.
Portugal’s Full 28-Man Squad
Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa (Porto), Rui Silva (Sporting), Samuel Soares (Benfica).
Defenders: João Cancelo (Barcelona), Diogo Dalot (Manchester United), Alberto Costa (Porto), Rúben Dias (Manchester City), Renato Veiga (Villarreal), Tomás Araújo (Benfica), António Silva (Bournemouth), and Nuno Tavares (Lazio).
Midfielders: Rúben Neves (Al-Hilal), João Palhinha (Benfica), Matheus Fernandes (Tottenham), João Neves (Paris Saint-Germain), Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Bernardo Silva (Real Madrid).
Forwards: Pedro Neto (Chelsea), Rodrigo Mora (Roma), Francisco Trincão (Al-Ahli), Rafael Leão (Galatasaray), Geovany Quenda (Chelsea), Carlos Forbs (Club Brugge), João Félix (Al-Nassr), Gonçalo Ramos (Milan), Fábio Silva (Borussia Dortmund), and Gustavo Varela (Monza).
“Sir Bartholomew White Ebe is a Lagos-based media personality, Music Artist, Producer, and a Relationship Coach and independent journalist. With over seven years of experience tracking political developments and cultural shifts in Nigeria, he specializes in local current affairs, grassroots politics, and community-driven reporting across Lagos State. As the founder and chief editor of Snow Multimedia Connect {SNOW TV}, he leads the editorial team to deliver verified, high-impact stories to digital audiences.”
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