Nuno Tavares Returns to Portugal Squad After Lazio Revival
Nuno Tavares has forced his way back into the Portugal squad, riding a surge of form at Lazio that has completely changed the trajectory of his season – and, for now, his international career.
From the Brink to First Choice
A few months ago, the script looked very different. After a difficult year under Maurizio Sarri, the former Arsenal full-back seemed destined either to leave Rome or watch from the bench as new signing Alfonso Pedraza took over on the left.
Instead, Tavares dug in.
He used the tough spell under Sarri to sharpen the side of his game that had always drawn the most criticism: his defending. When Gennaro Gattuso arrived, he saw enough to rip up the depth chart and hand the 26-year-old the starting role again, with clear instructions – defend with discipline, then drive forward relentlessly.
Gattuso’s faith has been repaid. Tavares has looked reborn, playing with the kind of conviction that once made him one of Europe’s more intriguing attacking full-backs.
Standout Display Against Milan
The turning point came in a statement performance. In Lazio’s 2-2 draw with AC Milan, Tavares was arguably the standout player on the pitch. He played a key part in both goals, heavily involved in the moves that led to Matteo Cancellieri and Tijjani Noslin finding the net.
That display, and his consistent level since, did not go unnoticed back home.
Portugal’s new head coach Jorge Jesus has recalled him for the extended international break, a clear sign that his club form has pushed him back into the national-team conversation.
Competing With the Best
Tavares returns to a Portugal setup where the left-back position is dominated by one of the elite. Nuno Mendes of Paris Saint-Germain is widely regarded as the best in the world in his role, and Tavares will realistically start this camp as his understudy.
But the calendar gives him a real opening. Portugal will play four group-stage matches in the latest edition of the UEFA Nations League, facing Wales, Norway twice, and Denmark. With that kind of schedule, rotation is inevitable. Minutes are there to be claimed.
For a player who has had to fight his way back from the margins, even a supporting role now carries weight.
A Sparse but Telling International Record
Tavares’ international CV remains thin. The Lisbon-born defender has just three caps, all from the bench. His last appearance came against Hungary in October 2025. Since then, silence – until this call.
His recall is one story. The other headline, as ever with Portugal, is Cristiano Ronaldo. The veteran forward is once again included, extending his astonishing longevity on the international stage and sharing a squad list with a player like Tavares, whose national-team journey is only just restarting.
Portugal Squad for the Upcoming Break
Jorge Jesus has named the following group:
- 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).
For Tavares, this list is more than just names on a page. It’s proof that the work done in Rome under Gattuso has dragged him back into one of the most competitive national teams in world football. The question now is simple: can he turn this recall into something permanent?
