Portugal players to wear Ronaldo’s number seven shirt in Denmark tribute

Portugal’s players will wear Cristiano Ronaldo’s iconic number seven shirt before Saturday’s Nations League match against Denmark, as part of an unprecedented tribute to the former captain.

The gesture will take place before the Group D, League A fixture, with Portugal also planning a symbolic pause in the seventh minute at Braga Municipal Stadium. Supporters at the Pedreira will be invited to join the celebration of Ronaldo’s contribution to the national team.

The Portuguese Football Federation approved the two tributes in advance with UEFA, allowing them to go ahead during the match on 14 November 2026.

The decision was made at a meeting on Thursday involving Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proenca, head coach Jorge Jesus and three of the current national-team captains: Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias and Bruno Fernandes.

The initiatives are intended to mark Ronaldo’s international career, which began with his Portugal debut in August 2003 and ended with his announcement last week that he was retiring from international football.

Ronaldo’s decision came after 23 years representing Portugal and followed a significant dispute involving Jesus. His retirement means he follows his long-standing rival Lionel Messi, who announced his own international retirement about a month earlier.

Ronaldo’s Portugal room left empty

Officials at the Portuguese Football Federation’s Cidade do Futebol headquarters have also decided to leave Ronaldo’s usual room in the players’ residence vacant during the squad’s first training camp since the Al-Nassr forward ended his international career.

The move forms part of a series of measures being taken by the federation and Portugal’s national team to recognise Ronaldo’s legacy. He became the country’s record goalscorer and led one of the most successful generations in Portuguese football history.

Ronaldo’s international career included more than 23 years in a Portugal shirt, before his retirement was confirmed last week.

Former team-mate defends Ronaldo

Former Portugal midfielder Adrien Silva has rejected suggestions that Ronaldo’s confidence reflected arrogance.

Speaking in an interview with Kooora, which is due to be published later, Silva said Ronaldo possessed genuine self-belief and ambition, although those qualities had sometimes been misunderstood.

Asked whether Ronaldo’s confidence and emotional reactions had led people to judge him unfairly, the 37-year-old replied: “At times, his immense confidence in himself was misinterpreted. Anyone competing at the highest level needs to believe in themselves unconditionally.”

Silva added: “What some people described as arrogance was nothing more than genuine ambition and the natural frustration of someone who hates losing.”