Ronaldo tops Portugal's squad list

Vitinha heads Portugal's squad for the Nations League quarter-final against Denmark released on Friday by Spain coach Roberto Martinez, who described the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder as the current "master of European football."

"It's an incredible feeling to see our players at this level. Vitinha is the master of European football, the man with the baton. We are very proud," Martinez told a news conference at the Cidade do Futebol in Oeiras.

The coach praised the performance of PSG's Vitinha and Joao Neves in Tuesday's Champions League match against Liverpool and said that the dynamic between the two in midfield began in the national team. Martinez recalled having observed and felt "a special chemistry" between the two players, who form "a high-level duo."

The Portugal coach also spoke about Joao Felix, who was included in the squad, despite the fact that the former Barca and Atletico Madrid player "is not going through consistent moments" in his career. The AC Milan striker is, according to the coach, "a very different and special player" who deserves to remain in the squad for his performances in previous training camps.

Portugal, winners of the inaugural Nations League in 2019, will face Denmark in Copenhagen on the 20th in the first leg, while the return leg is set for the 23rd in Lisbon.

Squad list:

Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa (Porto, POR), Rui Silva (Sporting, POR, ESP), Jose Sa (Wolverhampton, ING).

Defenders: Diogo Dalot (Manchester United, ENG), Nelson Semedo (Wolverhampton, ENG), Nuno Mendes (PSG, FRA), Nuno Tavares (Lazio, ITA), Goncalo Inacio (Sporting, POR) Ruben Dias (Manchester City, ENG), Antonio Silva (Benfica, POR), Renato Veiga (Juventus, ITA).

Midfielders: João Palhinha (Bayern, ALE), Joao Neves (PSG, FRA), Rúben Neves (Al Hilal, KSA), Vitinha (PSG, FRA), Bernardo Silva (Man. City, ING), Bruno Fernandes (Man. United, ING).

Forwards: Joao Felix (AC Milan, ITA), Francisco Trincao (Sporting, POR), Francisco Conceicao (Juventus, ITA), Pedro Neto (Chelsea, ENG), Geovany Quenda (Sporting, POR), Rafael Leao (AC Milan, ITA), Diogo Jota (Liverpool, ENG), Goncalo Ramos (PSG, FRA) and Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr, KSA).