Overview
- The captain misses the game after a straight red for an elbow on Dara O'Shea in the 2-0 loss to Ireland, his first international dismissal.
- Portugal have confirmed his absence for today, with Gonçalo Ramos expected to lead the line and João Félix likely to feature in attack.
- Bruno Fernandes returns from suspension, while Nuno Mendes and Pedro Neto remain sidelined with injuries.
- Head coach Roberto Martínez described the red card as unfortunate, arguing VAR angles made the incident appear worse than it was.
- Straight reds at this level typically bring a two-match ban, so he could miss the World Cup opener if Portugal qualify directly, and he urged teammates on Instagram to deliver.