He was equally impressive in his debut in the UEFA Champions League, a 1–0 home win against Inter Milan where he stopped Patrick Vieira and Luís Figo from playing effectively, earning Player of the match accolades in the process.

[27][28] On 29 June 2020, with his first season still ongoing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Veloso agreed to a deal for a second campaign at the Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi,[29] in which he added two more goals and renewed again.

[32] Veloso acted as captain for Portugal at the 2003 UEFA European Under-17 Championship, helping the nation to emerge victorious on home soil after defeating Spain 2–1 in an Iberian final played in Viseu.

On 14 August 2007, following impressive performances for the under-21s in the 2007 UEFA European Championship in June (the skipper scored twice in three games, albeit in a group stage exit),[35] Veloso was called up to the full side for the first time, for a Euro 2008 qualifier against Armenia,[36] but only made his international debut against Azerbaijan on 13 October.

[38] Veloso was recalled by coach Carlos Queiroz after a long spell out of the squad, for vital 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches with Denmark and Hungary in September 2009,[39] but did not leave the bench on either occasion;[40][41] he did take the field when they met the latter again the following month, winning 3–0.

[43] He was chosen for the finals in South Africa where he made two brief substitute appearances in the group stage, assisting the concluder by Tiago in a 7–0 rout of North Korea.

[45] He played every minute of their finals campaign in Poland and Ukraine, before being substituted at half-time in extra time of an eventual penalty shootout loss to Spain in the semi-finals.

[46] At the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, Veloso was withdrawn at the interval for defender Ricardo Costa in a 4–0 opening defeat to eventual champions Germany.

[47] In the final group game against Ghana, he played at left-back due to Fábio Coentrão's injury;[48][49] a 2–1 win was not enough to beat the United States' goal difference and advance to the last 16.