Reported by Simon Daniel Yusuph l Journalist at Weng Global
Portugal forward Rafael Leão has described wearing the national team’s No. 7 shirt as a special moment because of his admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo, after taking the number during Portugal’s 4-2 UEFA Nations League victory over Denmark in Copenhagen on Thursday, October 1, 2026.
Leão, who previously wore No. 17 for Portugal, was handed the No. 7 shirt after Ronaldo left the national team camp. The Galatasaray forward said the number carries particular significance because Ronaldo has been his childhood idol and because his children were born on the seventh day of the month.
Leão Steps Into Portugal’s No. 7 Shirt
The change was immediately noticeable when Portugal faced Denmark at Parken Stadium.
Leão started the match wearing the No. 7 shirt historically associated with Ronaldo, who had been Portugal’s regular wearer of the number for many years. UEFA’s current Nations League records list Leão as Portugal’s No. 7 and confirm the upcoming Portugal-Norway fixture on October 4.
The switch followed Ronaldo’s departure from Portugal’s training camp during the international break.
Rather than treating the number simply as a change of squad numbering, Leão acknowledged its connection to the player he grew up admiring.
Speaking after Portugal’s victory, Leão said the experience was special because Ronaldo had been his idol since childhood. He added that he wanted to respect the shirt and enjoy the occasion while helping Portugal secure the victory.
For a player who grew up watching Ronaldo become one of Portugal’s defining football figures, the moment carried both sporting and personal significance.
A Personal Connection to the Number
Leão also explained that the No. 7 has another meaning in his personal life.
According to his post-match comments reported by Portuguese publication A Bola, the number is connected to the birth date of his children.
That gave the shirt a significance beyond its association with Ronaldo and Portugal’s national team.
Leão said his immediate priority, however, was to represent the shirt properly and contribute to the team’s performance.
His comments reflected an effort to acknowledge Ronaldo’s legacy without presenting himself as a direct replacement for the veteran forward.
The distinction is important because the No. 7 shirt has become strongly identified with Ronaldo during his long international career. Portugal’s use of the number has therefore attracted considerable attention following his departure from the camp.
Portugal Defeat Denmark 4-2
Leão’s first appearance in the No. 7 shirt came in a significant Nations League fixture.
Portugal defeated Denmark 4-2 at Parken Stadium, adding another three points to its campaign. UEFA’s records confirm the October 1 meeting as a Nations League League Phase fixture in Copenhagen.
The result continued Portugal’s strong run in the competition and maintained its position at the top of the group, according to Leão’s post-match comments reported by A Bola.
For Leão, the match therefore combined an important team result with an unusual personal milestone.
He was not simply wearing a new number; he was doing so in a shirt previously occupied by one of the most recognisable players in Portuguese football.
The 4-2 victory also allowed the discussion surrounding the shirt to remain connected to the team’s performance rather than becoming the sole focus of the occasion.
Ronaldo’s Departure Created the Change
The circumstances surrounding the number change are closely linked to Ronaldo’s departure from Portugal’s training camp.
Reports from the current international window say Ronaldo left the squad before the Denmark match following developments involving his role in the team.
Ronaldo’s departure has generated considerable discussion about his relationship with Portugal’s current setup and his future involvement with the national team.
However, the circumstances have been reported differently by various outlets, and the reasons surrounding the departure should be distinguished from confirmed match information.
What is established is that Ronaldo was absent when Portugal played Denmark and that Leão wore the No. 7 shirt in his place. UEFA’s official player records now list Leão with Portugal’s No. 7 for the Nations League campaign.
Leão himself avoided turning the issue into a public dispute.
Asked about Ronaldo after the Denmark match, he said the situation was not something that concerned the players and stressed the team’s collective focus. He also said he believed Ronaldo would be happy with Portugal’s victory.
That response kept the attention on the national team rather than adding to the speculation surrounding Ronaldo’s situation.
Ronaldo’s Legacy With Portugal
The significance of Leão’s shirt change cannot be separated from Ronaldo’s extraordinary international career.
UEFA’s records identify Ronaldo as a longstanding Portugal No. 7 and captain, while its coverage of Portugal’s 2026 World Cup campaign described him as the team’s captain at the tournament.
Ronaldo has been central to Portugal’s international successes, including the country’s European Championship triumph in 2016 and its Nations League titles.
He has also established international records that have made the No. 7 shirt particularly recognisable among Portugal supporters.
The number consequently carries an identity that goes beyond the digits printed on the back of a jersey.
For Leão, who openly describes Ronaldo as a childhood idol, wearing it represents an opportunity to acknowledge that influence while beginning a different chapter of his own international career.
Leão’s Growing Role for Portugal
Leão has already been part of Portugal’s senior setup for several years and has featured in major international competitions.
UEFA lists the 27-year-old forward as a Portugal international who plays his club football for Galatasaray. Its current Nations League profile lists him as the national team’s No. 7.
His role has generally been associated with attacking width, pace and one-on-one ability, giving Portugal another option in the forward line.
The No. 7 shirt does not, by itself, establish that Leão has assumed Ronaldo’s position or status within the national team.
It does, however, give his performances an additional layer of public attention because of the number’s association with Portugal’s most recognisable modern footballer.
Leão’s response suggests that he understands the weight attached to the shirt while maintaining that his immediate responsibility is to contribute to the team’s objectives.
The Number Does Not Define the Player
Although shirt numbers often acquire symbolic importance in football, they do not automatically determine a player’s role or standing within a squad.
Leão previously wore No. 17 for Portugal, while Ronaldo was associated with No. 7.
The reassignment therefore reflects the current squad situation rather than necessarily indicating a permanent succession arrangement.
UEFA’s current Nations League player page lists Leão as No. 7, but the competition’s squad numbers can change between matches or international windows depending on registration and team selections.
The focus for Leão will therefore remain on his performances rather than the number itself.
His comments after the Denmark match indicated precisely that approach: he wanted to respect the shirt but regarded Portugal’s victory and team performance as the most important outcome.
A Symbolic Moment for Portuguese Football
The image of Leão wearing No. 7 inevitably carries symbolism.
Ronaldo has worn the number throughout much of his Portugal career, helping turn it into a familiar part of his identity.
Leão’s decision to publicly acknowledge Ronaldo as his childhood idol adds another dimension to the transition.
Instead of distancing himself from the history associated with the shirt, Leão has recognised the influence of the player who wore it before him.
That does not mean Leão is expected to reproduce Ronaldo’s career or achievements. Footballers develop under different circumstances, and the circumstances of Portugal’s current squad are different from those of previous generations.
The significance of the moment lies primarily in the connection between one generation of Portuguese football and another.
Portugal’s Next Challenge
Portugal’s Nations League campaign continues on Sunday, October 4, when the team is scheduled to face Norway.
UEFA lists Portugal’s meeting with Norway as the next Nations League fixture, following the Denmark match.
The match will provide another opportunity for Leão to feature in Portugal’s current squad and for the team to build on the Denmark result.
Whether he continues to wear No. 7 in subsequent international fixtures will depend on Portugal’s squad registration and team decisions.
For now, however, the shirt has given Leão a distinctive moment in his international career.
What Leão’s Comments Tell Us
Leão’s remarks after the Denmark match contained two clear messages.
First, he recognised Ronaldo’s personal influence on him, describing the former Portugal captain as his childhood idol.
Second, he placed the team’s result above the symbolism surrounding the shirt.
That balance is particularly relevant during a period when Portugal’s national team is receiving intense attention because of Ronaldo’s absence.
Rather than claiming ownership of Ronaldo’s legacy, Leão spoke about respecting the number and concentrating on helping Portugal.
The approach allows the No. 7 shirt to remain connected to Ronaldo’s history while giving Leão room to establish his own identity.
What Happens Next
Portugal will next face Norway on October 4 in the Nations League.
UEFA’s current schedule also lists further Nations League fixtures against Denmark on November 14 and Wales on November 17.
Leão will remain part of Portugal’s attacking options as the team continues its campaign.
The future of Ronaldo’s involvement with the national team remains a separate issue and should not be determined solely by the temporary or current assignment of the No. 7 shirt.
For Leão, the immediate challenge is straightforward: perform for Portugal, contribute to the team’s results and justify the trust placed in him by the coaching staff.
His first outing in the number ended with a 4-2 victory over Denmark, giving the shirt’s new wearer a positive start.
Why It Matters
The story is significant because the No. 7 shirt has become one of the most recognisable symbols associated with Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal.
Leão’s decision to acknowledge Ronaldo as his childhood idol provides a personal explanation for why the moment mattered to him.
At the same time, the change illustrates how national teams manage squad numbers when a player is absent and another member of the squad takes on the available number.
For Portuguese football, it is another visible sign of a changing squad while the team continues competing at international level.
For Leão, it is an opportunity to build his own chapter while openly recognising the influence of the player who inspired him as a child.
Weng Global – stories beyond borders
Sources
- UEFA
- A Bola
- Punch
- Goal
- RTP
