The 28-year-old former Barcelona star was on Monday omitted from Dunga's 22-man squad to face Carlos Queiroz's team in Brasilia, despite having netted the winner for the Rossoneri against Napoli on Sunday.

Dunga believes Ronaldinho needs to get more game-time under his belt in Serie A before returning to the Selecao.

He said: "He needs to get rhythm of matches and training.

"He is having more time to prepare himself at Milan and we are watching the results of his recent matches.

"We'll reap the benefits from him in 2009. We hope he will be in his best condition so he can be the Ronaldinho everybody knows."

Ronaldinho, who helped Brazil take bronze at the Olympics, has been absent from the Selecao since the goalless draw against Bolivia in Rio de Janeiro on September 10.

While there was no room for Ronaldinho in Dunga's selection on Monday, the Brazil coach did call up Adriano despite his recent lack of playing time in Serie A.

The 26-year-old has not been considered by Internazionale coach Jose Mourinho recently as punishment for a late night out, but that is not something which concerns Dunga.

"We only know what happens there [in Italy] superficially," he said.

"If there is a problem with Adriano, that is Inter's problem. In the national team, we solve problems here.

"I know Adriano has behaved excellently and worked well in all the training sessions. He played very well against Venezuela and he is getting his best shape back."

Manchester United midfielder Anderson and Manchester City duo Elano and Robinho are part of the squad, but their team-mate Jo - who starred in the last World Cup qualifier against Colombia - misses out to fit-again Sevilla forward Luis Fabiano.

Surprises in the list are Sao Paulo defender Miranda, who returns to the Selecao after 15 months, and Real Madrid's Marcelo, who was part of Brazil's Olympic side in Beijing.

"I am very happy about my selection," said Miranda. "It's the result of the hard work I've done at Sao Paulo, but I share this with my team-mates and the technical staff."

The friendly against Portugal will mark the inauguration of Brasilia's newly-rebuilt Estadio Walmir Campelo Bezerra, better known as the Bezarrao.

Brazil squad: Julio Cesar (Internazionale), Doni (Roma); Maicon (Internazionale), Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Kleber (Santos), Marcelo (Real Madrid), Lucio (Bayern Munich), Miranda (Sao Paulo), Thiago Silva (Fluminense), Luisao (Benfica); Gilberto Silva (Panathinaikos), Elano (Manchester City), Anderson (Manchester United), Josue (Wolfsburg), Kaka (AC Milan), Diego (Werder Bremen), Mancini (Internazionale), Alex (Internacional); Robinho (Manchester City), Luis Fabiano (Sevilla), Alexandre Pato (AC Milan), Adriano (Internazionale).