Nuno Tavares Returns to Portugal Squad After Lazio Revival

Nuno Tavares is back where he always thought he should be – in the Portugal squad – after dragging his Lazio career out of a cul-de-sac and into the spotlight.

The full-back, once written off after a bruising spell under Maurizio Sarri, has been revived by Gennaro Gattuso and rewarded with a recall by new Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus.

From Fringe Option to Gattuso Mainstay

Last season left Tavares on the brink. Under Sarri, his defensive flaws were exposed, his confidence drained, and his future in Rome looked uncertain. When Alfonso Pedraza arrived in the summer, most expected the former Arsenal man either to be moved on or quietly shuffled behind the new signing in the pecking order.

Instead, Tavares fought back.

He leaned on the lessons from his time with Sarri, tightening up his defensive positioning and discipline. Gattuso saw a different player. The Italian not only restored him to the starting XI, he handed him exactly what Tavares thrives on: permission to attack relentlessly down the left, all game long.

The response has been emphatic.

Standout Display Against AC Milan

The turning point came in a wild 2-2 draw with AC Milan. On a pitch full of stars, Tavares was arguably Lazio’s standout performer.

He drove at Milan’s back line, stretched the game, and played a crucial part in both Lazio goals, heavily involved in the moves finished by Matteo Cancellieri and Tijjani Noslin. It was the kind of performance that doesn’t just win you man-of-the-match talk; it puts your name back on the radar at national-team level.

Portugal were watching.

Jesus, assembling his first extended squad for the upcoming international break, took note of the resurgence in Rome and brought Tavares back into the fold.

Backing Up Nuno Mendes – But With Minutes on Offer

Tavares returns to a Portugal side where the left-back hierarchy is clear. Nuno Mendes, now at Paris Saint-Germain and widely viewed as the best in his position in world football, is the undisputed starter.

Tavares will operate in his shadow, at least on paper. But this is no token call-up.

Portugal face a heavy schedule in the latest edition of the UEFA Nations League, with four group-stage fixtures: Wales, Denmark, and a double-header against Norway. Rotation will be essential, and the Lazio defender is expected to see the pitch at some stage across that run.

For a player who has had to scrap for every minute at club level, the opportunity to re-establish himself in the Selecao setup is significant.

A Modest International Record – For Now

Tavares’ international résumé is still modest. The Lisbon-born defender has just three caps, all as a substitute. His last appearance came in October 2025 against Hungary, another brief cameo that did little to cement his place.

He has not been called up since. Until now.

This recall offers the chance to turn those scattered minutes into something more substantial – to move from occasional understudy to trusted squad piece.

Yet even with his return, one name inevitably dominates the conversation.

Ronaldo Still the Headline Act

Cristiano Ronaldo’s inclusion once again headlines the Portugal squad list. At 30-somethings and beyond, with his club career now at Al Nassr, his presence continues to frame every squad announcement and every debate about the team’s direction.

Around him, though, Jesus has assembled a blend of established stars and emerging talents across the pitch – and Tavares has forced his way into that mix.

Portugal Squad for the Upcoming 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).

For Tavares, this isn’t just a recall. It’s a second life in the national shirt, earned the hard way on a Roman touchline and now tested on the international stage.