Portugal’s squad for the Nations League trip to Denmark brings a major shirt switch: Cristiano Ronaldo is out, and Rafael Leão has taken over the No. 7. UEFA confirmed the squad list on Thursday morning after Ronaldo left the national team camp.
How the jersey switch happened
Leão usually wears No. 17 for Portugal, but the vacant No. 7 became available once Ronaldo was removed from the Denmark squad. UEFA’s match regulations require the 23 players to be assigned numbers from 1 to 23 for each fixture, so the change was made on the official team sheet.
For years, No. 7 and Ronaldo were almost inseparable, with the shirt becoming part of his global identity. Against Denmark, that number now belongs to a different winger, even if only for one match.
What else changed in the squad
- Rafael Leão moved from No. 17 to No. 7.
- Fábio Silva took over the No. 17 shirt and was added to the matchday group.
- Bruno Fernandes returned after missing the Norway match because of injury.
- Francisco Conceição remained unavailable while continuing his recovery.
Why Ronaldo stepped away
Ronaldo left camp on Wednesday, September 30, after Jorge Jesus’ press conference and a conversation with Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proença. He said he would explain his side later.
The situation had been building for several days. Ronaldo started on the bench in Portugal’s 2-1 win over Norway, then trained separately from the rest of the squad despite being fit. Jesus said the forward was unhappy with the decision, but he denied that the issue had turned into a full-blown dispute.
What the situation means going forward
The timing, coming just before kickoff in Copenhagen, has fueled speculation about Ronaldo’s future with Portugal. Reports also suggest political attention has entered the discussion, but no retirement announcement has been made by the federation.
Ronaldo has already hinted that the 2026/27 campaign could be his last, so this episode has only intensified debate about how long he will continue in international football. For now, though, Portugal heads into the Denmark match with Leão wearing the shirt most closely tied to Ronaldo’s legacy.