Ronaldo’s absence changes the spotlight
Portugal’s squad for Thursday’s UEFA Nations League trip to Denmark features a major change: Cristiano Ronaldo is out, and Rafael Leão will wear the No. 7 shirt. The updated lineup was released on Thursday morning after Ronaldo left the national team camp the day before.
For nearly 20 years, Portugal’s No. 7 has been inseparable from Ronaldo’s identity, turning the number into a global symbol. Seeing Leão inherit it for this match gives the shirt extra weight, even if the assignment is temporary.
What changed in the squad
- Rafael Leão switches from No. 17 to No. 7.
- Fábio Silva takes over No. 17 and joins the matchday group.
- Bruno Fernandes is available again after missing the Norway match with an injury.
- Francisco Conceição remains out while he continues recovering.
Why the shirt swap happened
The change is tied to UEFA’s squad rules. Each team must submit a 23-player list for every Nations League fixture, and every player is assigned a number from 1 to 23. Once Ronaldo was removed from the Denmark roster, the No. 7 shirt opened up and went to Leão.
| Player | Match number | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Rafael Leão | 7 | Starting the match with Ronaldo’s former number |
| Fábio Silva | 17 | Replaces Leão’s usual squad number |
| Bruno Fernandes | — | Returns after injury |
| Francisco Conceição | — | Still recovering |
Ronaldo’s departure and what comes next
Ronaldo left camp on Wednesday, September 30, after coach Jorge Jesus’ press conference and a discussion with Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proença. He said he would share his explanation later.
The situation had already been building. Ronaldo was benched in Portugal’s 2-1 win over Norway, then trained separately even though he was fit. Jesus said the forward was unhappy with the decision, but denied that the pair had fallen into a serious conflict.
The timing, coming so close to kickoff in Copenhagen, has fueled speculation about Ronaldo’s international future. Portugal’s prime minister has reportedly become involved, though the federation has not announced retirement or any formal end to his national-team career. Ronaldo, who has already hinted that the 2026/27 season could be his last, remains one of the central figures in the story.
