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. After a difficult spell under Maurizio Sarri, the former Arsenal full-back seemed destined either for the exit door or a supporting role behind new signing Alfonso Pedraza. Instead, at 26, he has turned that uncertainty into a platform.

Gattuso has been central to that turnaround. Tavares took the lessons from Sarri’s demanding system and sharpened the defensive side of his game. Gattuso then did what every attacking full-back wants to hear: he backed him as a starter and gave him license to surge forward for 90 minutes. The response has been emphatic.

His performance in Lazio’s 2-2 draw with AC Milan underlined the transformation. Tavares was arguably the standout player on the pitch, heavily involved in the moves that led to goals for Matteo Cancellieri and Tijjani Noslin. That display, and his broader form in the Italian capital, has not gone unnoticed back home.

New Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus has recalled him for the extended international break, a significant vote of confidence after a long spell in the wilderness.

Backup Role, Big Opportunity

Tavares will arrive at camp knowing the hierarchy. Nuno Mendes of Paris Saint-Germain is widely regarded as the premier left-back in the world, and Tavares is expected to operate as his understudy. But this isn’t a token call-up.

Portugal face four group matches in the latest edition of the UEFA Nations League, against Wales, Norway (twice) and Denmark. With that kind of schedule, rotation is inevitable. Minutes will be there for the Lazio defender if he maintains his current level.

For a player whose international career has barely had a chance to start, the stakes are obvious.

A Stop-Start International Story

So far, Tavares’ record with the national team is modest: three caps, all from the bench. His last appearance came in October 2025 against Hungary. Since then, nothing. No call-ups. No cameos. Just a long wait and the need to rebuild his reputation at club level.

That work is now paying off. His return is a headline in its own right, but it shares the spotlight with a familiar name.

Cristiano Ronaldo has once again been included in the squad, ensuring the captain’s enduring presence remains one of the main talking points around the Selecao.

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 on the fringes at club and country to a man back in the Portugal dressing room, Tavares has dragged his career onto a different track. The question now is simple: can he turn this recall into something permanent?