Geovany Quenda is back in Portugal's senior setup after almost two years away, and Roberto Martinez is framing the move as a reminder that the teenager still has a place in the national team picture. Quenda is 19. He had been expected to make history as Portugal's youngest-ever international at 17 years, six months and 19 days, four days younger than Paulo Futre's record, but he has now waited through a longer spell out of the senior squad than many would have guessed.

Martínez's explanation

Martinez said the final group game in Split did not give him the chance to use Quenda, because the match state and the substitutions available meant there was no opening to bring him on. Speaking to A Bola, he said: "The match did not allow it, it is a camp in which we do not want to take risks with anyone, Nuno Mendes felt something in his ankle, so we did not have the opportunity to use the fourth and fifth substitutions, but Geovany is a player who can help the National Team a lot."

That is the core of the story. In November 2024, after the Croatia squad episode, Quenda dropped to the under-21s and was not called up to the senior team again until now. A Bola also reported that there was punishment from Martínez and no formal suspension from the FPF, which is why the issue has never sat neatly in one box.

The wait and the workload

Quenda's wait has stretched for almost two years, but the move back arrives with his club minutes still limited. He has made 4 Premier League appearances this season and played 110 league minutes, which is a fairly light load for a player being asked to re-enter an international setup. His 6.14 average league rating is not the sort of number that screams breakthrough, but Portugal do not need to force the issue either.

Sporting CP still sit third in the Primeira Liga with 24 points from 11 league matches, so Quenda is coming from a club side that remains close enough to the top end to keep him in view. Portugal are top of their Nations League group with 12 points from four wins, which gives Martinez room to manage the next step carefully.

Quenda was not handed the senior debut that had looked so likely in 2024, but Martinez's public line is now clear enough. The winger is back in the frame, and Portugal's next group game against Croatia in Split on 18 November is the date attached to the decision.

Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →