Cristiano Ronaldo has managed to maintain his spot on the Portugal national football team for the upcoming UEFA Nations League matches against Croatia and Scotland, despite a disappointing performance at Euro 2024. The 39-year-old forward was unable to score during his sixth participation in the European Championship, where Portugal was eliminated in the quarter-finals. However, coach Roberto Martinez continues to have confidence in the experienced player. “When I retire from international football, I will not inform anyone in advance… Right now, I only want to help the Selecao,” Ronaldo stated in an interview with Portuguese television.
Ronaldo has had a strong start to the new season, scoring four goals in as many matches for the Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr, and is expected to continue leading Portugal’s attack, especially with Paris Saint-Germain forward Goncalo Ramos sidelined due to an ankle injury. While veteran defender Pepe announced his retirement from football at the age of 41 earlier this month, Martinez is looking forward with the selection of 17-year-old Sporting Lisbon winger Geovany Quenda.
Other new faces in the squad for the matches on September 5 and 8 in Lisbon include Chelsea left-back Renato Veiga and Lille defender Tiago Santos. The UEFA Nations League is a biennial international football tournament involving men’s national teams from all member associations of UEFA (the Union of European Football Associations).
**Goalkeepers:**
– Diogo Costa (FC Porto)
– Jose Sa (Wolves/ENG)
– Rui Silva (Real Betis/ESP)
**Defenders:**
– Ruben Dias (Manchester City/ENG)
– Antonio Silva (Benfica)
– Renato Veiga (Chelsea/ENG)
– Goncalo Inacio (Sporting Lisbon)
– Tiago Santos (Lille/FRA)
– Diogo Dalot (Manchester United/ENG)
– Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA)
– Nelson Semedo (Wolves/ENG)
**Midfielders:**
– Joao Palhinha (Fulham/ENG)
– Joao Neves (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA)
– Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA)
– Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United/ENG)
– Bernardo Silva (Manchester City/ENG)
– Ruben Neves (Al-Hilal/KSA)
**Forwards:**
– Joao Felix (Chelsea/ENG)
– Francisco Trincao (Sporting Lisbon)
– Pedro Goncalves (Sporting Lisbon)
– Rafael Leao (AC Milan/ITA)
– Geovany Quenda (Sporting Lisbon)
– Pedro Neto (Chelsea/ENG)
– Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr/KSA)
– Diogo Jota (Liverpool/ENG)