Cristiano Ronaldo included as Portugal name squad for September-October Nations League window

Portugal named their squad for the September-October international window for the Nations League and included Cristiano Ronaldo in Jorge Jesus’s first national selection for competitive matches.

Portugal arrive at the new cycle after a disappointing end to their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign and will begin a fresh phase under a new manager. Jorge Jesus, the 72-year-old coach, took charge in July following Roberto Martínez’s departure. The opening Nations League fixture in the September-October window will mark the start of Jesus’s tenure in competitive action. Portugal enter the competition as the defending champions.

Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, remains Portugal’s captain and has been named in Jesus’s initial squad. Ronaldo previously suggested that the coming year could be the final stage of his playing career and confirmed in July that the 2026 World Cup would be his last. Jesus has stated that Ronaldo’s reputation, including his five Ballon d’Or awards, will not guarantee him a starting place and that selection will be based on performance.

The squad mixes established internationals with younger options and lists the following players: goalkeepers Diogo Costa, Rui Silva and Samuel Soares; defenders Gonçalo Inácio, João Cancelo, Diogo Dalot, Nuno Tavares, Nuno Mendes, Renato Veiga, Rúben Dias and Tomás Araújo; midfielders Bruno Fernandes, João Palhinha, João Neves, Rúben Neves, Vitinha and Bernardo Silva; and forwards Cristiano Ronaldo, Fábio Silva, Francisco Trincão, Francisco Conceição, Gonçalo Ramos, João Félix, Pedro Neto and Rafael Leão.

Four Nations League fixtures are scheduled across the September-October international window, offering Jesus the first opportunity to assess the direction of the side under his management. The selection preserves a core of experienced players while including several younger prospects. Ronaldo’s inclusion ensures the veteran captain will be part of the squad as Portugal begin the next stage of their campaign.

Portugal will begin their Nations League campaign under Jorge Jesus during the September-October international window and will contest four fixtures in that period.