Portugal players wear number seven as Cristiano Ronaldo receives farewell tribute

Cristiano Ronaldo was honoured during Portugal’s Nations League meeting with Denmark on Saturday, with the match pausing in the seventh minute to mark the end of his international career.

All of Portugal’s players entered the Municipal Stadium in Braga wearing shirts bearing the number seven, which became closely associated with Ronaldo during his 23-year career with the national team.

The tribute was organised by Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proenca in coordination with Portugal’s captains Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias and Bruno Fernandes. The initiative was approved by UEFA.

When the seventh minute arrived, play was briefly interrupted as supporters applauded Ronaldo, who was described by Proenca as the “eternal captain”.

The crowd also unveiled a huge tifo carrying the words: “Thank you, captain.” The display celebrated the forward’s contribution to Portugal and his lasting legacy with the national side.

Portugal manager Jorge Jesus called the gesture a “wonderful idea”, saying Ronaldo’s 23 years with the team and his impact on Portugal and world football could not be forgotten.

Jesus also highlighted his personal understanding of Ronaldo’s ability and importance, having worked with him for a full year at Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr. He said the player represented significant value to younger generations.

Portugal change design of number seven

As another tribute to their former captain, the Portuguese Football Federation announced a permanent change to the graphic design of the number seven on the national team’s shirts.

The new version will use a different typeface and feature a white line through the middle. The previous design associated with Ronaldo will also be retained as a permanent reminder of his career.

Ronaldo, 41, ended his international career with two world records. He made 234 appearances for Portugal and scored 146 goals, making him the most-capped player and the leading goalscorer in the history of international football.

He helped Portugal win the European Championship in 2016 and Nations League titles in 2019 and 2025. Those successes formed part of the most significant achievements in the national team’s history.

Ronaldo announced his international retirement in a video message posted on his social media accounts. He said the time had come to hand the number seven shirt to the next generation, while also making clear that he would continue to support Portugal.

The decision followed disagreements with Jesus over his involvement in matches. Ronaldo left the national team camp angrily before subsequently announcing his retirement from international football.