Portugal is set to deliver a heartfelt and highly symbolic tribute to Cristiano Ronaldo this Saturday when the national team faces Denmark in the UEFA Nations League. The match at Estadio Municipal de Braga marks the first competitive outing for the Selecao since Ronaldo officially stepped away from international football earlier this month. According to multiple Portuguese reports, every player will walk onto the pitch wearing the famous number 7 shirt that Ronaldo made his own over more than two decades.
The gesture was agreed during a meeting involving Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proenca, head coach Jorge Jesus, and the current leadership group of captains Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias and Bruno Fernandes. The tribute does not stop at the entrance. UEFA has given permission for a special moment in the seventh minute of the game. Fans in the stands are expected to join in with applause or a standing ovation, creating a shared recognition of the player who scored 146 goals in 234 appearances and captained Portugal to the Euro 2016 title and two Nations League crowns.
Portugal keep Cristiano Ronaldo’s room empty at training base ahead of special Farewell
Cristiano Ronaldo announced his retirement on 5 November in an emotional video message, saying he was handing back the number 7 shirt after 23 years of service. The decision followed tensions with Jesus during the previous international window, but the federation and squad have chosen to mark the end of the era with respect rather than silence. There is another quieter gesture taking place away from the cameras. At the national team’s training base, Cidade do Futebol, room 201, the one Ronaldo always occupied during camps has been left empty. No other player has been assigned to it for this gathering.
Saturday’s match is the fifth fixture in Group A4. Portugal have already secured top spot and a place in the quarter-finals, so the result carries less pressure than usual. Still, the evening will clearly be about more than three points. For a generation of Portuguese supporters, the number 7 on the back of a red shirt has meant one thing only. Seeing the entire squad wear it as they step into the stadium will feel like a collective thank you for one of the greatest players.
