2024-08-30 19:30:24
Portugal will play two UEFA Nations League matches next month. The former Euro champions announced the team ahead of that match today. Coach Roberto Martinez kept Cristiano Ronaldo in the team despite not scoring a goal in the Euro held in July.
The 39-year-old Ronaldo holds the record of scoring 130 goals for the national team in international football history. But he did not score any goals despite playing 5 matches for the national team in 2024 Euro. They were eliminated from the quarter-finals after losing to France in a tiebreaker.
After exiting the Euros, Martinez said the Portugal team was going through a new process ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Ronaldo will be 41 at the time of the next World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. But coach Martinez does not know when exactly Ronaldo will stop. So even at this age they are giving him a place in the national team.
Ronaldo-Jotara will face Croatia at home on September 5 and Scotland on September 8.
Portugal Squad:
Goalkeeper: Diogo Costa, Jose Sa and Rui Silva.
Defense: Ruben Dias, Antonio Silva, Renato Veiga, Gonzalo Inacio, Thiago Santos, Diogo Dalot, Nuno Mendes and Nelson Semedo.
Midfielder: Joao Palhinha, Joao Neves, Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Ruben Neves, Joao Felix, Francisco Trincao and Pedro Gonçalves.
Forward: Rafael Leo, Giovanni Cuenda, Pedro Neto, Cristiano Ronaldo and Diogo Jota.