UEFA’s official squad list confirms Rafael Leão will wear Portugal’s iconic No. 7 for the upcoming Nations League matches after Cristiano Ronaldo left the national team camp.
Rafael Leão has been handed Portugal’s No. 7 shirt following Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure from the national team camp, with UEFA’s official squad listing confirming the change ahead of Portugal’s Nations League meeting with Denmark.
The Galatasaray forward normally wears No. 17 for Portugal, but he has been assigned Ronaldo’s famous No. 7 for the current international fixtures. Fábio Silva has taken Leão’s previous No. 17 shirt.
Leão is listed as Portugal’s No. 7 for the match against Denmark in Copenhagen and the following Nations League fixture against Norway.
Why Leão has been given No. 7
The change is primarily a consequence of UEFA's squad-numbering regulations rather than a formal announcement that Leão has permanently inherited Ronaldo's shirt.
For Nations League matches, players on the match sheet must be assigned numbers from 1 to 23. With Ronaldo no longer part of Portugal's matchday squad, the No. 7 had to be assigned to another player.
Leão therefore becomes the player wearing the number most closely associated with Ronaldo's international career.
Ronaldo has worn Portugal's No. 7 for much of his senior international career, making the sight of another player wearing the number particularly notable.
Ronaldo's departure
The change comes only a day after Ronaldo announced that he had left Portugal's training camp.
Ronaldo said his decision followed a press conference by head coach Jorge Jesus and a conversation with Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proença.
The Portugal captain said he would explain the reasons for his departure at a later stage.
The Portuguese Football Federation subsequently confirmed that Ronaldo had left the camp and said preparations would continue with the remaining 24 players.
Ronaldo's departure has raised questions about his future with the national team, but he has not announced his international retirement.
Leão's new number is not necessarily permanent
Although Leão will wear No. 7 for the upcoming fixtures, the change should not automatically be interpreted as a permanent reassignment of Ronaldo's shirt.
The immediate change is connected to the official match squad submitted for the Nations League fixtures.
UEFA's official player listing now identifies Leão as Portugal's No. 7, while his club number at Galatasaray remains 27.
For now, however, the image of Leão wearing No. 7 marks a striking moment for Portuguese football.
Ronaldo's departure from the camp has left Portugal preparing for its next matches without its captain, while the number that has become synonymous with CR7 will now appear on Leão's back.
