Cristiano Ronaldo trains with Portugal ahead of Spain return - in pictures

Veteran attacker on Nations League duty on Thursday

Cristiano Ronaldo trains with Portugal at Cidade do Futebol in Oeiras, on Wednesday, June 1, 2022. Portugal take on Spain in the Uefa Nations League on Thursday. EPA

Portugal's Rafael Leao, right, with teammates on the eve of their Nations League match against Spain. AFP

Portugal midfielder Bernardo Silva, second left, training with teammates. AFP

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, left, and coach Fernando Santos, right. AFP

Portugal forward Rafael Leao at the training session ahead of their match against Spain. AFP

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo training with teammates. AFP

Left to right: Cristiano Ronaldo, Goncalo Guedes and Bernardo Silva during training. AFP

Portugal attacker Diogo Jota, centre, during the training session at Cidade do Futebol in Oeiras. EPA

Left to right: Ruben Neves, Diogo Dalot, William Carvalho, Bruno Fernandes, Joao Cancelo, Domingos Duarte, Matheus Pereira and Danilo Pereira. EPA

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo during training. AFP

Portugal defender Diogo Dalot during the training session at Cidade do Futebol in Oeiras. EPA

Portugal soccer team players (L-R) Cristiano Ronaldo, Joao Moutinho, Raphael Guerreiro, and Otavio Monteiro during the training session at Cidade do Futebol in Oeiras, outskirts of Lisbon, Portugal, 01 June 2022. Portugal will play against Spain, Czech Republic and Switzerland for the upcoming UEFA Nations League. EPA / JOSE SENA GOULAO

Left to right: Pepe, Joao Palhinha, Cristiano Ronaldo and Goncalo Guedes. EPA

Left to right: Goncalo Guedes, Bernardo Silva and Cristiano Ronaldo during training. EPA

Andre Silva and Otavio battle for the ball during training. EPA

Cristiano Ronaldo returns to Spain this week as Portugal take on Luis Enrique's side in the Uefa Nations League on Thursday.

The veteran forward spent nine trophy-laden seasons in La Liga from 2009 with Real Madrid before spending four years in Italy at Juventus and then returning to Manchester United last summer.

The move back to England has not gone to plan for Ronaldo, despite the 37-year-old's 24 goals in all competitions, as United failed to win any silverware or even qualify for the Champions League having finished sixth, a whopping 35 points behind champions Manchester City.

Now Ronaldo's attention shifts to the national team as Portugal face four Nations League games in June, taking on Spain at Real Betis's Benito Villamarin Stadium on Thursday, followed by two home games against Switzerland and Czech Republic, then the Swiss again, this time in Geneva.

Out with Ronaldo on the training pitch on Wednesday were the likes of AC Milan's Serie A winning winger Rafael Leao, Manchester City's Premier League clinching duo Bernardo Silva and Joao Cancelo, plus Diogo Jota – who came within touching distance of a historic quadruple with Liverpool.

Check out the images of the Portugal stars training in the gallery above. To move on to the next photo, click on the arrows or if using a mobile device, simply swipe.