Portuguese U21 stars who are not at the EUROs | OneFootball

There is a busy summer of soccer action to enjoy, with the eyes drawn to the inaugural edition of the new-look FIFA Club World Cup.

However, the stars of tomorrow will also be on display in Slovakia, as the U21 EUROs will see many of the leading nations in contention. Among those include the reigning champions England, as well as Portugal, who will have a realistic chance of securing a first success.

The Portuguese U21s have endured some hard-luck stories throughout the history of the tournament, losing in three finals, with only Spain finishing as the runners-up more frequently.

However, Rui Jorge will be without a number of key players for the tournament this summer, with some stars instead opting to play in the Club World Cup and/or regulars for the full national team. But, who are some of the U21 stars that won’t be representing Portugal in the EUROs in 2025?

Rodrigo Mora

Rodrigo Mora was a crucial player for the U21s throughout the qualification campaign, but he will be unavailable for selection this summer due to club duties in the United States.

The attacking midfielder was one of the breakthrough stars in the Liga Portugal last season after impressing for Porto B in 2023-24.

During his time in the developmental team, he scored five goals in 34 games. He was handed first-team opportunities with Porto following a string of impressive displays in the U17 EUROs with Portugal, and he made history by becoming the seventh-youngest player to feature for the club in 2024-25.

His reputation reached new heights over the course of the season, scoring ten times in 23 league appearances. Porto have since tied the attacking midfielder down to a new long-term deal.

Martim Fernandes

Another Porto mainstay who has been forced to miss the U21 EUROs this summer is Martim Fernandes. The right-back, born in January 2006, began his youth career with UD Valonguense, before signing for the Portuguese giants in 2017.

After five years with the developmental team, he was handed a professional contract with the club, before playing two seasons for the B team. Fernandes made his debut for Porto B against Sporting Covilha in May 2022 aged 16, becoming the youngest debutant in the history of the competition.

His potential was clear to see, as he was named in The Guardian: Next Generation 2023 list. Fernandes was handed his first minutes with the senior team in October 2023, before he was picked to replace the injured João Mário against arch-rivals Sporting Clube de Portugal in April of the same year.

Since his breakthrough to the first team, Fernandes has made the right-back position his own, playing 34 times across all competitions in the 2024-25 season.

João Neves

Portugal’s chances of EUROs success this summer will be hugely damaged by the loss of João Neves, who has been one of the standout players in European football throughout 2024-25. Such is his importance at club level, PSG require his services for the Club World Cup, as they attempt to win a fourth major honour of the calendar year.

Neves’ breakthrough came during his time with Benfica, forming an integral part of the team that upset the odds to top a UEFA Youth League group that also included Barcelona and Bayern Munich. His performances continued to catch the eye at youth level, which saw him awarded with a senior opportunity with the first-team in 2022-23.

During the second half of the season, Neves was handed further opportunities following the departure of Enzo Fernández. The 2023-24 season would see him take his game to a new level, being named in the Team of the Year, before moving to French giants PSG for $70 million.

He has quickly became a vital player for Luis Enrique’s club, making 52 appearances across all competitions last season, and starring in the 5-0 Champions League win over Inter Milan.

Nuno Mendes

There have arguably been few better left-backs in world football throughout the 2024-25 season than Nuno Mendes, with the former U21 star becoming a vitally important player for both his club and his national team.

Mendes’ performances haven’t gone under the radar, as he has been applauded for his performances against some of the best wingers on the planet, restricting stars such as Mohamed Salah and Lamine Yamal to few opportunities. Mendes came through the youth ranks at Sporting, forming an important part of the defensive line that won the Portuguese double in 2021-22.

He does not only have a pace that would rival some of the best TwinSpires racing horses, but also has dribbling and sharp defensive awareness.

However, his ability was quickly picked up by PSG, signing for the French club on an initial loan deal in 2021. Since signing for the club, he has made over 120 appearances and has won the Ligue 1 title on two occasions and the 2025 Champions League.

His importance for the national side was reflected in June after being named the Player of the Finals Tournament as Portugal overcame Germany and Spain to win a second title.