Nuno Tavares Returns to Portugal Squad After Lazio Revival
Nuno Tavares has forced his way back into the Portugal squad, riding the wave of a sharp resurgence at Lazio under Gennaro Gattuso.
A year ago, his future in Rome looked bleak. The former Arsenal full-back had struggled in a difficult spell under Maurizio Sarri and walked into this season seemingly behind new signing Alfonso Pedraza in the pecking order. Many expected a quiet exit or a season spent watching from the bench.
Instead, he fought.
Drawing on the tactical schooling and positional discipline demanded by Sarri, the 26-year-old tightened the defensive side of his game. Gattuso then did the rest: he restored Tavares as a starter and handed him licence to surge forward relentlessly down the left. The response has been emphatic.
His standout performance came in the 2-2 draw with AC Milan, where he was arguably Lazio’s best player on the pitch. Tavares played a key part in both goals, heavily involved in the moves finished by Matteo Cancellieri and Tijjani Noslin. Those runs from deep, that aggression in transition – they travelled quickly back to Portugal.
Jorge Jesus, newly in charge of the national team, has taken note. Tavares has been recalled for the extended international break and named in the squad for the latest edition of the UEFA Nations League.
He will not walk straight into the XI. With Paris Saint-Germain’s Nuno Mendes widely regarded as the premier left-back in world football, Tavares is expected to serve as understudy. But the schedule opens a door. Portugal face four group-stage fixtures – against Wales, Norway twice, and Denmark – and rotation is inevitable. Minutes should come.
For Tavares, every second will matter. The Lisbon-born defender has just three senior caps, all as a substitute. His last appearance for the Selecao came in October 2025 against Hungary, and he has been on the outside looking in ever since. Now, after rebuilding his form and confidence in Serie A, he has a fresh shot at international relevance.
The squad announcement, though, did not revolve solely around his name. Cristiano Ronaldo’s presence once again dominated the conversation, with the Al Nassr forward included among the attackers as he extends his extraordinary international career.
Jorge Jesus’ Portugal Squad for the International Break
- Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa (FC Porto), Rui Silva (Sporting), Samuel Soares (Benfica).
- Defenders: Diogo Dalot (Manchester United), João Cancelo (Barcelona), Gonçalo Inácio (Sporting), Rúben Dias (Manchester City), Renato Veiga (Villarreal), Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain), Tomás Araújo (Benfica), Nuno Tavares (Lazio).
- Midfielders: Rúben Neves (Al Hilal), João Neves (Paris Saint-Germain), Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Bernardo Silva (Real Madrid), João Palhinha (Benfica).
- Forwards: João Félix (Al Nassr), Francisco Trincão (Al Ahli), Francisco Conceição (Juventus), Pedro Neto (Chelsea), Rafael Leão (Galatasaray), Gonçalo Ramos (AC Milan), Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr), Fábio Silva (Borussia Dortmund).
From a player seemingly squeezed out at club level to a recalled international, Tavares has turned his situation on its head. The question now is simple: can he turn this opportunity into a permanent place in Portugal’s plans?
