The Portugal national team has officially announced its 28-man squad for the final two matches of the UEFA Nations League group stage for the 2026/27 season — and Cristiano Ronaldo is notably absent from the list. On November 5, the legendary striker brought an end to his 23-year international career. This was reported by the press service of the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) on the social network X (Twitter), as cited by Sport RBC.UA. Head coach Jorge Jesus unveiled the team's first squad since the departure of its long-serving captain, handing the leadership armband to Real Madrid midfielder Bernardo Silva.
Farewell to Records: 234 Matches and 146 Goals
Over 23 years in the national team jersey, Cristiano Ronaldo made 234 appearances and scored 146 goals, both of which are world records in men's international football. For over a decade, the forward wore the captain's armband, becoming a symbol of an entire generation of Portuguese football. His departure closes an era spanning from his debut in 2003 to his final farewell match on November 5, 2026. FPF President Pedro Proença expressed "profound and eternal gratitude" to Ronaldo in an official statement, noting that he "spread Portugal's name to every corner of the world," broke records, and led the team to achievements "that will forever remain in our history." Proença also promised that the federation would properly honor the player's legacy.
Bernardo Silva — The New Captain: 115 Caps
Following Ronaldo's departure, the captain's armband was given to Real Madrid midfielder Bernardo Silva. Among all the players included in the November squad, he has the most international experience with 115 caps. His closest pursuer in this regard is Bruno Fernandes with 97 appearances. Thus, the team management has placed its trust in an experienced and authoritative midfielder who has been one of the key players for several years.
Squad for November Matches: Who Is In
Jorge Jesus has called up 28 players. The goalkeepers include Diogo Costa (Porto), Rui Silva (Sporting), and Samuel Soares (Benfica). The defenders are Diogo Dalot (Manchester United), Rúben Dias (Manchester City), Tomás Araújo (Benfica), António Silva (Bournemouth), Renato Veiga (Villarreal), and Tavares (Lazio). The midfielders feature João Palhinha (Benfica), Rúben Neves (Al-Hilal), Mateus Fernandes (Tottenham), Vitinha and João Neves (both PSG), Bernardo Silva (Real Madrid), and Bruno Fernandes. The attacking line includes Pedro Neto and João Cancelo (both Chelsea), Carlos Forbs (Club Brugge), Rafael Leão (Galatasaray), João Félix (Al-Nassr), Gonçalo Ramos (Borussia Dortmund), and others. The full list has been published on the official FPF website.
Portugal Already in the Play-offs: Team Form Without Ronaldo
It is worth noting that the Portugal national team has already secured a spot in the Nations League play-offs. The team guaranteed this after a 2-1 victory over Norway in the fourth round of the group stage. Earlier, in the third round, the Portuguese secured a convincing 4-2 win over Denmark, playing without Ronaldo, who left the national team just before that match. According to Sport RBC.UA, Jorge Jesus's side has won all three matches played and tops its group. Therefore, the upcoming November games serve more to confirm their leadership than as a battle for play-off qualification.
Schedule: Denmark and Wales Are the Final Group Matches
In November, the Portuguese will play their final two matches of the Nations League group stage. On November 14, Jorge Jesus's team will face Denmark, and on November 17, they will play Wales. Both matches will continue the story of "Portugal without Ronaldo" and give fans a chance to assess how the team is adapting to the new era. For Bernardo Silva, these games will be his first as the official captain of the national team — a role he will hold moving forward alongside Bruno Fernandes and other veterans in the squad.
