Cristiano Ronaldo’s future at club level is uncertain, but he remains a mainstay for Portugal and leads the line as they take on Germany in the Nations League semi-finals.
Portugal are aiming to win the Nations League for the second time, having lifted the trophy in the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2019.
Ronaldo’s contract at Al-Nassr is set to expire and, following the end of the Saudi Pro League season, the Manchester United and Real Madrid legend posted on social media that “this chapter is over”.
He has been linked with Wydad Casablanca ahead of the Club World Cup, but Ronaldo’s immediate focus is on getting Portugal past an extremely difficult opponent and into Sunday’s final.
Germany team news
Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann has made six changes from the starting XI that clinched a place in the semi-final with a chaotic 3-3 draw with Italy.
Stuttgart striker Nick Woltemade earns his first cap for Die Mannschaft as he starts up front in place of Tim Kleindienst, who scored against the Azzurri.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen returns in goal in place of Oliver Baumann, while Waldemar Anton and Robin Koch start in a back three along with Bayern Munich new boy Jonathan Tah for the game at the Allianz Arena.
Aleksandar Pavlovic replaces Angelo Stiller in midfield, and the in-demand Florian Wirtz takes the place of Jamal Musiala, with the Bayer Leverkusen star and Leroy Sane tasked with providing support to Woltemade.
Also dropping out of the Germany side are Antonio Rudiger and Nico Schlotterbeck. Rudiger had a knee operation on Tuesday, while Schlotterbeck suffered a torn meniscus in April.
Germany: Ter Stegen; Anton, Tah, Koch; Kimmich, Goretzka, Pavlovic, Mittelstadt; Sane, Wirtz; Woltemade.
Subs: Gross, Nmecha, Fullkrug, Baumann, Undav, Adeyemi, Kehrer, Gnabry, Gosens, Raum, Andrich, Nubel, Bischof.
Portugal team news
Portugal make four changes to the side that beat Denmark 5-2 in a dramatic quarter-final second leg back in March.
Joao Neves replaces Diogo Dalot at right-back, while Ruben Neves comes in for Vitinha in midfield.
Up front Francisco Trincao and Pedro Neto play either side of Ronaldo, Trincao having netted twice as a substitute to help Portugal see off Denmark.
They come in for Rafael Leao and Francisco Conceicao.
Portugal: Costa; Joao Neves, Inácio, Dias, Mendes; Bernardo, Ruben Neves, Fernandes; Trincao, Ronaldo, Neto.
Subs: Semedo, Antonio Silva, Dalot, Palhinha, Ramos, Felix, Sa, Veiga, Leao, Goncalves, Jota, Rui Silva, Vitinha, Mora, Conceicao.
