LISBON, Portugal —
Portugal coach Roberto Martinez has included Cristiano Ronaldo in his squad for the opening two Nations League games after the veteran striker disappointed at the European Championships.
Martinez announced his squad on Friday for the home games against Croatia on September 5 and Scotland on September 8.
Ronaldo, 38, holds the record with 130 goals for his country but failed to score in Portugal’s five games at Euro 2024 before they were eliminated on penalties in the quarter-finals by France.
Martinez said that after the Euro Cup, the team “starts a new cycle for the 2026 World Cup.”
Cristiano would be 41 years old if he makes it to the tournament that will be held in Mexico, the United States and Canada.
Martinez handed Cristiano Ronaldo his place back into the starting lineup after predecessor Fernando Santos stunned the team and nation by benching him during the 2022 World Cup, where he scored the winner against Ghana but failed to score in the next four games before a shock quarter-final loss to Morocco.
“Cristiano Ronaldo’s level is unique. A player who at 39 years old continues to play at the level he is playing and has the physical abilities he has is incredible,” said Martinez.
“Cristiano is in good form and is important for the national team now, but no one can talk about the future.”
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Portugal:
Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa (FC Porto), José Sá (Wolverhampton, England), Rui Silva (Real Betis, Spain).
Defenses: Ruben Dias (Manchester City, England), António Silva (Benfica), Renato Veiga (Chelsea, England), Gonçalo Inácio (Sporting), Tiago Santos (Lille, France), Diogo Dalot (Manchester United, England), Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain, France), Nélson Semedo (Wolverhampton, England).
Steering wheels: João Palhinha (Bayern Munich, Germany), João Neves (Paris Saint-Germain, France), Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain, France), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United, England), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City, England), Rúben Neves (Al-Hilal, Saudi Arabia), João Félix (Chelsea, England), Francisco Trincão (Sporting), Pedro Gonçalves (Sporting).
Forwards: Rafael Leão (AC Milan, Italy), Geovany Quenda (Sporting), Pedro Neto (Chelsea, England), Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr, Saudi Arabia), Diogo Jota (Liverpool, England).
