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.

The left-back looked on his way out only a few months ago. After a bruising spell under Maurizio Sarri and the arrival of Alfonso Pedraza, he seemed destined either for the bench or the exit door. Instead, the 26-year-old has flipped the script.

From Fringe Option to Key Starter

Sarri’s reign was tough on Tavares, but it left a mark. The former Arsenal defender used that period to tighten up the weakest part of his game: his defending. Gattuso has picked up that work and gone a step further.

The new coach restored him to the starting XI and handed him exactly what he craves — freedom to surge forward for 90 minutes. The response has been emphatic.

In the 2-2 draw with AC Milan, Tavares was arguably Lazio’s standout performer. He drove the team on from the left, heavily involved in the moves that led to goals for Matteo Cancellieri and Tijjani Noslin. It was the sort of all-action display that is hard to ignore, even at international level.

Portugal’s new head coach Jorge Jesus certainly didn’t.

Jorge Jesus Calls, Tavares Answers

Tavares has been named in Portugal’s squad for the upcoming extended international break, a return that marks the end of a long wait on the outside looking in.

He will, realistically, start behind Paris Saint-Germain’s Nuno Mendes in the pecking order. Mendes is widely viewed as the premier left-back in the game right now, and that hierarchy will not change overnight.

But the calendar opens a door. Portugal face four group-stage fixtures in the latest edition of the UEFA Nations League — against Wales, Norway twice, and Denmark. With that workload, Tavares is expected to see the pitch at some point, a chance to add substance to his club form on the international stage.

A Sparse International Record – For Now

For all his club experience, Tavares’ international CV remains thin. The Lisbon-born defender has just three caps, all as a substitute. His last appearance for the national team came in October 2025 against Hungary. Since then, silence.

That changes now. Even so, his recall has been overshadowed by a familiar name.

The biggest talking point around Jorge Jesus’ list is the continued presence of Cristiano Ronaldo. The Al Nassr forward remains in the squad, still part of the Selecao’s plans as another Nations League cycle begins.

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 year of doubt in Rome to a seat back at the national table, Tavares has earned another shot. What he does with it, in a squad packed with star names and rising talent, will define the next chapter of his career.