Portugal Names First Squad Without Cristiano Ronaldo for Nations League Close

By The Arena Staff

OEIRAS, Portugal, Nov. 6, 2026 — One day after Cristiano Ronaldo walked away from the national team, Jorge Jesus named the first Portugal squad of the post-Ronaldo era. The 28-player list for UEFA Nations League games against Denmark and Wales leans hard into renewal: seven changes from the last camp, two first senior call-ups, and no place for the all-time men's scoring and appearance leader.

Portugal hosts Denmark on Nov. 14 at Estádio Municipal de Braga, then travels to Cardiff City Stadium to face Wales on Nov. 17. The squad reports Monday at Cidade do Futebol. Portugal has won its first four Nations League matches and already has a quarterfinal berth; one more point clinches top of Group A4, the Portuguese federation and beIN SPORTS reported.

Jesus said seven players are new relative to the previous call-up and framed the choices as a bet on club form with "renovação" and eyes on the future. Porto right back Alberto Costa and Monza forward Gustavo Varela received their first senior call-ups. Roma midfielder Rodrigo Mora and Chelsea winger Geovany Quenda return aiming for first caps after prior involvement under Roberto Martínez left them uncapped. Also back into the mix are António Silva (Bournemouth), Mateus Fernandes (Tottenham) and Carlos Forbs (Club Brugge).

Francisco Conceição is out after UEFA handed him a three-match suspension for his red card against Norway. Paris Saint-Germain fullback Nuno Mendes is injured, and Gonçalo Inácio is another absentee, beIN reported.

Jesus told reporters at Cidade do Futebol that he had expected Ronaldo to return and planned to call him, then learned of the retirement when the public did. "Claro que pensava que ele ia voltar e que ia conversar com ele, convocá-lo, mas tenho de respeitar a sua decisão," he said, according to the federation's transcript — he thought Ronaldo would come back and that he would talk with him and select him, but he has to respect the decision. FPF president Pedro Proença opened the news conference by thanking Ronaldo, saying no tribute would ever be enough and promising to honor the legacy.

Captaincy will follow international caps, not a coach's pick. Among those named, Bernardo Silva, Rúben Dias, João Cancelo, Rúben Neves and Bruno Fernandes lead that list, Jesus said. Bernardo Silva, now at Real Madrid, was singled out for form and experience.

The full list: goalkeepers Diogo Costa (Porto), Rui Silva (Sporting) and Samuel Soares (Benfica); defenders Diogo Dalot (Manchester United), João Cancelo (Barcelona), Rúben Dias (Manchester City), Renato Veiga (Villarreal), Tomás Araújo (Benfica), Nuno Tavares (Lazio), António Silva (Bournemouth) and Alberto Costa (Porto); midfielders João Palhinha (Benfica), Rúben Neves (Al Hilal), João Neves (Paris Saint-Germain), Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Bernardo Silva (Real Madrid) and Mateus Fernandes (Tottenham); forwards João Félix (Al Nassr), Francisco Trincão (Al Ahli), Pedro Neto (Chelsea), Rafael Leão (Galatasaray), Gonçalo Ramos (Milan), Fábio Silva (Borussia Dortmund), Carlos Forbs (Club Brugge), Rodrigo Mora (Roma), Geovany Quenda (Chelsea) and Gustavo Varela (Monza).

The Portuguese federation posted the announcement on X. Ronaldo's retirement story is here.

Sources: Federação Portuguesa de Futebol, beIN SPORTS and FPF (Jesus quotes).