Portugal give Premier League youngster shock call-up for Nations League matches as first squad since Euro 2024 revealed

Portugal have handed a Premier League youngster a shock call-up for their upcoming Nations League fixtures.

Portugal endured a disappointing first major tournament under the management of Roberto Martinez, bowing out of Euro 2024 with a quarter-final penalty shootout defeat to France.

Portugal have one of the most talented squads in world football, but since winning Euro 2016 have failed to progress beyond the quarter-finals of a major tournament.

Keen to put this summer's disappointment behind them, Portugal will soon regroup for the start of their UEFA Nations League campaign.

On Friday Martinez named his squad ahead of home fixtures against Croatia on September 5 and Scotland on September 8.

Cristiano Ronaldo has been included in the squad despite failing to score at Euro 2024.

The 39-year-old holds the record of 130 goals for international men’s soccer, but has maintained the faith of his manager.

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner was dropped by former Portugal boss Fernando Santos midway through the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Ronaldo was replaced in the starting line-up by Goncalo Ramos, but he has missed out on the squad through injury.

The most notable absentee is defender Joao Cancelo, who earlier this week completed his move to Al Hilal from Manchester City.

A surprise inclusion is Chelsea youngster Renato Veiga, who joined the club earlier this summer in a £12 million move from Basel.

Renato Veiga has been called up to the Portugal squad. [Getty]

The 21-year-old midfielder came up through the youth ranks at Sporting CP before joining Basel in 2023.

Veiga made his Chelsea debut on the opening day of the Premier League season, coming on at left-back during his side's 2-0 defeat to Man City.

The full Portugal squad is:

Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa (FC Porto), José Sá (Wolverhampton), Rui Silva (Real Betis).

Defenders: Rúben Dias (Manchester City), António Silva (Benfica), Renato Veiga (Chelsea), Gonçalo Inácio (Sporting), Tiago Santos (Lille), Diogo Dalot (Manchester United), Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain), Nélson Semedo (Wolverhampton).

Midfielders: João Palhinha (Bayern Munich), João Neves (Paris Saint-Germain), Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City), Rúben Neves (Al-Hilal), João Félix (Chelsea), Francisco Trincão (Sporting), Pedro Gonçalves (Sporting).

Forwards: Rafael Leão (AC Milan), Geovany Quenda (Sporting), Pedro Neto (Chelsea), Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr), Diogo Jota (Liverpool).