Nuno Tavares Returns to Portugal Squad After Lazio Revival

Nuno Tavares has fought his way back into the Portugal squad, riding the wave of a sharp resurgence under Gennaro Gattuso at Lazio.

From Fringe to First Choice in Rome

Twelve months ago, his future in the Italian capital looked bleak. After a difficult season under Maurizio Sarri, the former Arsenal full-back seemed destined either to leave or to slip behind new signing Alfonso Pedraza in the pecking order.

Instead, the 26-year-old dug in.

He absorbed the lessons from his time with Sarri, tightening the defensive side of his game, then seized his chance when Gattuso arrived. The new coach restored him to the starting XI and gave him what he craves most: freedom to surge forward for 90 minutes.

The response has been emphatic.

Standout Display Against Milan

Tavares delivered one of his best performances in a Lazio shirt in the 2-2 draw with AC Milan, arguably the standout player on the pitch. He was heavily involved in both goals, central to the moves finished by Matteo Cancellieri and Tijjani Noslin, and relentless down the left flank all night.

That display, and his strong start to the season, did not go unnoticed back home.

Portugal’s new head coach, Jorge Jesus, has rewarded Tavares with a recall for the upcoming extended international break, bringing him back into the national-team picture after a long absence.

Backing Up Nuno Mendes – But With Minutes in Sight

Tavares will arrive knowing the hierarchy. Nuno Mendes of Paris Saint-Germain is widely regarded as one of the best, if not the best, left-back in the world and remains the clear first choice.

But this is no token call-up.

Portugal face a heavy schedule in the latest edition of the UEFA Nations League, with four group games against Wales, Norway (twice) and Denmark. Rotation is inevitable, and the Lazio defender is expected to see the pitch at some stage as Jesus tests his options on the left.

For a player who had drifted out of the international conversation, it is a significant opening.

A Modest International Record – and a Big Headline Elsewhere

So far, Tavares’ international career is little more than a footnote. The Lisbon-born defender has just three caps, all as a substitute. His last appearance for the Seleção came in October 2025 against Hungary. He has not been called up since.

His return is a story of persistence and reinvention. Yet it arrives in a squad announcement dominated by a familiar name: Cristiano Ronaldo. The veteran forward’s inclusion once again commanded the biggest headlines, even as a new coach starts to shape the next cycle.

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).

For Tavares, the message is clear: keep this level at Lazio, and this recall might be the start of something more permanent in the red of Portugal.