Jesus makes seven changes in first Portugal squad since Ronaldo's retirement
Jorge Jesus has named his first Portugal squad since Cristiano Ronaldo retired from international football, bringing in seven players as the Nations League campaign continues.
Alberto Costa, Antonio Silva, Matheus Fernandes, Carlos Forbs, Geovany Quenda, Rodrigo Mora and Gustavo Varela are all included in Jesus' latest selection. Costa and Varela receive their first senior call-ups, while Mora and Quenda will be hoping to make their debuts after previously joining squads under Roberto Martinez without winning a cap.
Francisco Conceicao misses out through the three-match suspension UEFA imposed following his red card against Norway. Paris Saint-Germain full-back Nuno Mendes is injured, while Goncalo Inacio is also absent.
The announcement marks the start of Portugal's next chapter after Ronaldo ended his international career earlier this week as the leading scorer and appearance-maker in men's international football.
Many had expected the 41-year-old to retire after Portugal's round-of-16 exit at this year's World Cup. Instead, the Portuguese Football Federation convinced him to continue.
He then left the Portugal camp during the last international break after being left on the bench for a Nations League win over Norway. The FPF subsequently handed him a 30-day suspension, but Ronaldo decided to walk away from the national team ahead of this month's fixtures.
Speaking before Friday's squad announcement, FPF president Pedro Proenca promised that Ronaldo's contribution would be celebrated.
“No tribute will ever be enough to thank him for everything he has done for Portuguese football, for Portugal.”
“We will do everything we can to honour the legacy he leaves us. Everything he has done deserves to be honoured and celebrated.”
Portugal squad in full
Goalkeepers
- Diogo Costa — Porto
- Rui Silva — Sporting
- Samuel Soares — Benfica
Defenders
- 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
Midfielders
- Ruben Neves — Al-Hilal
- Joao Palhinha — Benfica
- Matheus Fernandes — Tottenham
- Joao Neves — Paris Saint-Germain
- Vitinha — Paris Saint-Germain
- Bruno Fernandes — Manchester United
- Bernardo Silva — Real Madrid
Forwards
- 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 — Milan
- Fabio Silva — Borussia Dortmund
- Gustavo Varela — Monza
Portugal have won their first four Nations League games to secure a quarter-final place and need just one more point to clinch top spot in the group.
They face Denmark on November 14 before travelling to Cardiff City Stadium three days later to take on Craig Bellamy's Wales.
