Portugal’s squad gets a headline change before Denmark
Portugal’s 23-man group for Thursday’s trip to Denmark came with one major twist: Cristiano Ronaldo is out, and Rafael Leão will take over the No. 7 shirt. The squad list was published on Thursday morning, shortly after Ronaldo left the national team camp.
The number carries rare weight in Portuguese soccer. For years, No. 7 and Ronaldo were almost inseparable, and the shirt became part of his global identity.
What changed in the team list
Leão normally wears No. 17 for Portugal, but against Denmark he steps into the jersey most closely tied to Ronaldo’s international career. The reshuffle also opened the door for other squad changes.
- Rafael Leão switches from No. 17 to No. 7
- Fábio Silva takes the available No. 17 and makes the matchday group
- Bruno Fernandes returns after missing the Norway match with an injury
- Francisco Conceição remains unavailable while recovering
Why the number swap happened
The change is mostly procedural. Under UEFA Nations League rules, each team must submit a 23-player list for every league-phase match, and every player is assigned a number from 1 to 23. Once Ronaldo was removed from the Denmark squad, the No. 7 shirt became available and was handed to Leão.
That makes the switch practical on paper, but it still carries symbolic value because of what Ronaldo’s shirt has represented for so long.
Ronaldo’s exit adds pressure before kickoff
The 41-year-old left camp on Wednesday, September 30, after Jorge Jesus spoke to the media and after a discussion with Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proença. Ronaldo said he would explain his reasons later.
Tension had been growing for days. Ronaldo was left on the bench in Portugal’s 2-1 win over Norway, then trained separately even though he was fit. Jesus said the player was unhappy with the decision, but denied that the situation had turned into a full-blown conflict.
With less than a day to go before kickoff in Copenhagen, the episode has fueled speculation about Ronaldo’s international future. Portugal’s prime minister has reportedly become involved, while the federation has not announced any retirement decision. Earlier this year, Ronaldo also hinted that 2026/27 could be his final season.