Leão Inherits Portugal’s Iconic Shirt Before Denmark Clash

Portugal’s squad for the Nations League trip to Denmark brought a major change: Cristiano Ronaldo is out of the team list, and Rafael Leão has been handed the No. 7 shirt. UEFA released the official squad on Thursday morning, only hours after Ronaldo left the national-team camp.

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Why the shirt change matters

For years, Portugal’s No. 7 has been inseparable from Ronaldo’s identity. The number became part of his global brand, and seeing another player wear it, even for one match, carries symbolic weight.

Leão usually plays with No. 17 for Portugal, so this switch is temporary but still notable. Against Denmark, he steps into the number that defined Ronaldo’s international career.

How Portugal’s squad was reshaped

Rafael Leão switches from No. 17 to No. 7
Fábio Silva takes over the unused No. 17 and joins the matchday group
Bruno Fernandes returns after missing the Norway match because of injury
Francisco Conceição remains unavailable while recovering

The change itself is straightforward. UEFA’s Nations League rules require every team to submit a 23-player squad list for each match, with each player assigned a number from 1 to 23. Once Ronaldo was removed from the Denmark selection, the No. 7 shirt became available and Leão received it.

What led to Ronaldo leaving camp

Ronaldo departed the 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 decision later.

The situation had already been tense. Ronaldo was left on the bench in Portugal’s 2-1 win over Norway, then trained separately despite being fit to take part. Jesus said the forward was unhappy with the decision, but he denied that the disagreement had become a full-blown rift.

What happens next for Portugal

The timing, coming less than a day before kickoff in Copenhagen, has fueled intense speculation about Ronaldo’s future with the national team. Portugal’s prime minister has reportedly become involved, adding even more attention to the story.

As of October 1, the federation has not announced any retirement decision, and Ronaldo has not officially stepped away from international duty. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner had already suggested earlier this year that the 2026/27 season could be his last.