The national team has added a crossed line to the number, and players will wear Ronaldo’s No 7 and stand for a seventh-minute ovation against Denmark in Braga. Carlos Forbs will wear the redesigned shirt.
Portugal have permanently changed the design of the No 7 shirt to honour Cristiano Ronaldo, who retired from international football on 5 November after a falling-out with coach Jorge Jesus. The forward’s 23-year career brought 246 caps and 146 goals. The change was revealed before Saturday’s Nations League match against Denmark in Braga, where the team will also pay tribute to him before and during the game. “Time to debut a new 7. Because there’s one that will be eternal,” the team wrote on social media.
The new No 7
The post included a goat emoji, for “Greatest Of All Time”, and a video showing a horizontal line crossing the number 7, as it is commonly written in Europe. It suggested that Ronaldo’s successors will all have that cross to bear when they wear the number.
Carlos Forbs, 22, of Club Brugge, has been named in the 23-man squad for Braga, according to the broadcaster RTP, and will wear the redesigned shirt. He has worn the number once before. He made his senior debut in Portugal’s 9-1 win over Armenia in November 2025, coming on in the 56th minute in No 7 because Ronaldo was suspended. Rafael Leão, the AC Milan forward, has also worn the number in Ronaldo’s absence but is out injured, TNT Sports reported. Portugal has not named a permanent holder.
Under Article 37.01 of the 2026/27 Nations League regulations, players must have shirt numbers between 1 and 23 in the group stage, quarter-finals and play-offs, and 1 to 26 at the finals. That explains why Portugal has redesigned the number and not withdrawn it. The number must also appear on the front of the shirt and under the player’s name on the back, so the new design must stay recognisable.
Tributes in Braga
A Bola reported that Portugal’s players will walk out wearing Ronaldo’s No 7 shirt. The plan was agreed by Pedro Proença, president of the Portuguese Football Federation, Jesus and senior players Bernardo Silva, Rúben Dias and Bruno Fernandes. A standing ovation is planned for the seventh minute, which UEFA has authorised. Flashscore reported that federation officials and coaching staff are also expected to join the pre-match tribute.
A Bola also reported that Ronaldo’s usual room at the Casa dos Atletas, in the team’s Cidade do Futebol training complex in Oeiras, has been left empty for the first gathering since his retirement. Portuguese reports identify it as room 201. There is no confirmed announcement that it will stay vacant in future.
A new captain
Silva has inherited the captain’s armband. At Friday’s press conference, reported by Yahoo Sports, he acknowledged that Ronaldo had been the main focus of attention for much of his international career. He said many people had previously gone to matches principally to watch the former captain, but that the remaining players were used to scrutiny and responsibility. Jesus, speaking in comments reported by AFP, welcomed the tribute despite his disagreement with Ronaldo. He described it as appropriate recognition and said Ronaldo’s achievements could not be forgotten.
Ronaldo’s career and exit
Ronaldo broke the men’s all-time scoring record and captained Portugal to their first major trophy at Euro 2016. He added two Nations League titles, in 2019 and 2025. His last appearance for Portugal was on 24 September, a 1-0 home win over Wales in the Nations League.
Reuters reported that on 19 October the federation’s disciplinary council imposed a 30-day suspension and a €255 fine on him for leaving the national-team camp, under Article 160(1) of its regulations. Anadolu reported that the process began on 9 October. Ronaldo had left Portugal’s Copenhagen camp on 30 September, after being left on the bench against Norway and disputing his planned role against Denmark. Euronews reported that he apologised for leaving his teammates, and that the committee took his remorse and past service into account. The penalty was treated as having begun in October, so it would not have stopped him playing against Denmark on 14 November. His absence follows his decision to retire, not a playing ban.
Squad and standings
João Cancelo is suspended through accumulated yellow cards, according to Notícias ao Minuto. RTP reported that Gonçalo Inácio, Mateus Fernandes and Gustavo Varela were left out for tactical reasons. Alberto Costa, Flávio Nazinho and 19-year-old Rodrigo Mora are in the matchday squad and could make their senior debuts.
Portugal have won all four of their Group A4 matches and have already reached the quarter-finals. A draw against Denmark would secure first place in the group, ahead of their final match against Wales on Tuesday 17 November. In October, they beat Denmark 4-2 in Copenhagen without Ronaldo, with goals from Gonçalo Ramos and João Félix.
