Portugal reserves the classic No. 7 shirt for Cristiano Ronaldo
The Portuguese federation will symbolically keep the plain No. 7 under Ronaldo's name while new jerseys show a crossed seven; tribute set for 14 November 2026.
The Portuguese Football Federation has announced that the classic plain No. 7 shirt will be permanently associated with Cristiano Ronaldo, who retired from the national team during the break between October and November Nations League fixtures.
Under the new decision, the traditional look of the number 7 — the plain version worn by Ronaldo for years — will be symbolically reserved for the former captain. Future players who wear the number will do so with a modified design: the digit will feature a cross through its centre rather than the old, unadorned style.
Rafael Le e3o will remain the first and last player to have worn the classic No. 7 for Portugal after Cristiano Ronaldo. Le e3o briefly took the plain seven during the camp between the Norway and Denmark matches but failed to mark the occasion on the pitch.
Tribute before Denmark match in Braga
Ahead of Portugal's UEFA Nations League game against Denmark in Braga on 14 November 2026, the entire squad will take the field wearing shirts that bear the number seven, and supporters are expected to applaud in the seventh minute as a tribute to Ronaldo.
The federation emphasised that the change is meant as an honour rather than a full retirement of the numeral: the number itself will remain available for use, but the original, plain design will be kept as a symbolic link to Ronaldo's legacy in the national team.
Photo: press material from the event
