Ronaldo’s exit changes the squad picture
Portugal’s squad for Thursday’s trip to Denmark has a new look after Cristiano Ronaldo left camp, and Rafael Leão will wear the famous No. 7 shirt. UEFA’s published list confirmed the change for the Nations League match in Copenhagen.
Leão normally uses No. 17 for Portugal, so the switch puts him into the number Ronaldo made iconic across nearly two decades with the national team. It is only one match on paper, but the symbolism is impossible to miss.
- Rafael Leão changes from No. 17 to No. 7
- Fábio Silva takes over No. 17 and is included in the matchday group
- Bruno Fernandes returns after missing the Norway match with an injury
- Francisco Conceição remains out while he continues recovering
Why the shirt was available
The number change followed a straightforward rule. Nations League squads must be submitted with 23 players, each assigned a number from 1 to 23, and the match sheet has to show those details clearly.
Once Ronaldo was removed from the Denmark squad, No. 7 became open, and Leão was the player chosen to take it.
What happened before kickoff
Ronaldo, 41, left the camp on Wednesday, September 30, after Jorge Jesus’ press conference and a discussion with Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proença. He said he would explain his decision later.
The situation had been developing for days. Ronaldo started on the bench in Portugal’s 2-1 win over Norway and then trained separately despite being fit. Jesus said the forward was unhappy with the decision, but denied there had been a serious break between them.
The timing, just hours before the Denmark match, has fueled plenty of speculation about what comes next for Portugal’s captain. The federation has not announced retirement, and Ronaldo had already suggested earlier this year that 2026/27 could be his final season.
