Portugal pay tribute to Cristiano Ronaldo as entire team wears No. 7

Portugal honoured Cristiano Ronaldo before their UEFA Nations League match against Denmark in Braga on Saturday, November 14, with every member of the national team wearing the iconic No. 7 shirt associated with their former captain.

The tribute marked Portugal's first international fixture since the 41-year-old announced his retirement from international football on November 5, bringing an end to a remarkable 23-year career with the national side.

Players walked onto the pitch wearing shirts bearing Ronaldo's name and number, while the accompanying mascots also wore the legendary No. 7. The gesture was part of a wider farewell to the five-time Ballon d'Or winner, whose contribution to Portuguese football has spanned more than two decades.

A special banner reading "OBRIGADO CAPI7ÃO" (Thank You, Captain) was also displayed at the stadium, with the number seven replacing the letter 'T' in the Portuguese word for captain.

Portugal redesigns the iconic No. 7

Alongside the pre-match tribute, the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) announced a permanent change to the design of the national team's No. 7 jersey.

The redesigned number features a horizontal stroke crossing through the digit, distinguishing it from the original style worn by Ronaldo throughout his international career.

Announcing the change on social media, the Portugal national team wrote: "Time to debut a new 7. Because there's one that will be eternal."

The redesign allows future Portugal players to continue wearing the number while preserving the original version as a symbol of Ronaldo's legacy.

The change also reflects the significance of the shirt number, which became inseparable from Ronaldo's identity and the global CR7 brand.

Ronaldo finished his international career with 234 appearances and 146 goals, both men's international records. He helped Portugal win Euro 2016 and two UEFA Nations League titles, in 2019 and 2025.

The redesigned jersey made its debut against Denmark, with Carlos Forbs wearing the new No. 7 during the match. Portugal's tribute was also marked by a planned ovation in the seventh minute.

Portugal and Argentina suffer defeats in post-CR7 and Messi eras

Portugal's first match in the post-Cristiano Ronaldo era started poorly, as Denmark handed them a 4-1 defeat in Braga on Saturday.

Rasmus Højlund scored twice, while Pierre-Emile Højbjerg and Joachim Andersen also found the net for Denmark. Bernardo Silva scored a late consolation goal for Portugal.

Interestingly, Portugal were not the only football powerhouse to suffer defeat in their first match following the departure of their legendary captain.

Argentina also began life without Lionel Messi with a 2-1 defeat against Uruguay in an international friendly at La Bombonera in Buenos Aires on Friday.

Leonardo Balerdi's own goal and Maximiliano Araújo's strike put Uruguay in control, before Julián Álvarez pulled one back for Argentina.

Fans spot an interesting coincidence

The back-to-back defeats of Argentina and Portugal have caught the attention of football fans on social media, with many pointing out that both teams lost their first matches following the international retirements of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

The two superstars, widely regarded as the greatest players of their generation, spent more than two decades carrying the expectations of their respective national teams.

With Messi's No. 10 and Ronaldo's No. 7 now entering new chapters, fans have been debating how difficult it will be for Argentina and Portugal to move forward without their iconic leaders.

The coincidence has also sparked the familiar GOAT debate, with supporters joking that both national teams have discovered how difficult life can be without their biggest stars.