Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal number seven cannot be retired under FIFA rules

Cristiano Ronaldo has ended 22 years of debate over his international future by announcing his retirement from Portugal duty and saying he was ready to return the number seven shirt “to all of our national team”.

The 40-year-old made the announcement in a farewell video posted on his official social media accounts on Thursday. His international career began in 2003 and ended with his appearance against Wales in September.

Ronaldo’s decision leaves the most famous shirt in Portugal football available under manager Jorge Jesus. But while some have called for the number to be permanently withdrawn in tribute to the forward, regulations mean it must continue to be used.

Why Portugal cannot retire number seven

The situation was illustrated during the most recent international break. After Ronaldo left the squad before the match against Denmark, Rafael Leao wore number seven.

That is likely to be the pattern in future, according to Portuguese newspaper Record. UEFA regulations require every national team to submit a final, numbered list of 23 players by midnight on the day before a match.

As no shirt number can be left vacant, one player must wear number seven. The same requirement applies to all official FIFA matches.

Portugal’s number seven will therefore remain in circulation, potentially being assigned to a different player at each training camp. That is not unusual: during Ronaldo’s own career, the shirt was worn in his absence by Nani, Ricardo Quaresma, Fabio Coentrao, Andre Silva, Bruma, Ricardo Horta and Miguel Veloso. Pedro Neto and Trincao also retained the number while remaining substitutes.

Portugal are scheduled to face Denmark in Nations League – Path A on 14 November 2026.

FIFA rule has also affected Messi and Maradona

FIFA regulations explicitly prevent men’s national teams from retiring or withholding shirt numbers, regardless of a player’s status.

That rule also applies to the suggestion made by Portugal great Paulo Futre at the Sports Foundation awards in October. “If I were in the Football Federation, I would retire number seven. Cristiano must go out in a big way,” he said.

Clubs may retire shirts, but national teams are not permitted to do so.

Argentina encountered the same restriction with Diego Maradona. In 2001, the Argentine Football Association formally asked FIFA to retire number 10 in his honour. The request was rejected, and Ariel Ortega wore the shirt at the 2002 World Cup.

The same happened after Lionel Messi announced his retirement, when Argentina again asked for number 10 to be withdrawn. That request was also rejected on regulatory grounds.

A more poignant case involved Cameroon’s Marc-Vivien Foe, who died after suffering a cardiac arrest on the pitch at the 2003 Africa Cup of Nations. Cameroon’s attempt to retire his number 17 was rejected by FIFA, although Manchester City retired his number 23 and Lens withdrew number 17 under club rules.

Ronaldo’s own history reflects the same principle. He made his first appearance for Chaves wearing number 16, then used 17 from Euro 2004 through the 2006 World Cup. He became Portugal’s number seven only after Luis Figo, its long-standing holder, retired in 2007.

The era of Ronaldo wearing seven is over, but the number itself will remain.