Portugal’s camp has shifted abruptly before Thursday’s Nations League meeting with Denmark, with Rafael Leão assigned the No. 7 shirt after Cristiano Ronaldo left the squad following a dispute with coach Jorge Jesus.
A vacant number in the Portugal camp
UEFA’s match squad registration for the Denmark fixture places Leão in the number traditionally worn by Ronaldo, who departed the Portugal gathering a day earlier. The change is a consequence of Nations League regulations, which require teams to use shirt numbers from 1 to 23 on matchdays.
With Ronaldo no longer among the available players, Portugal had to allocate the No. 7 to another member of the group rather than leave it unused. Leão, usually associated with the No. 17 for his country, has been selected to wear it.
- Cristiano Ronaldo left the Portugal camp after tensions with Jorge Jesus.
- The captain felt let down by a promise he believed had not been honoured.
- Rafael Leão has received Portugal’s No. 7 for the match against Denmark.
- Nations League rules limit matchday numbering to shirts 1 through 23.
Leão takes on a familiar Portugal shirt
The 27-year-old Galatasaray forward arrives at the assignment with 50 Portugal appearances and six international goals. Before moving to Turkey, he spent seven years with Milan in Italy.
Leão scored for Portugal against Uzbekistan at the 2026 World Cup, and he has generally worn No. 17 during his international career. The No. 7, however, carries a different weight around the Portuguese side after years as Ronaldo’s number.
No further alterations to the squad
There are no other changes in the UEFA list for the Denmark game. Of the 25 players called up by Jesus, Ronaldo and Francisco Conceição are the only two absent from the match selection.
Juventus attacker Conceição is unavailable because of injury, leaving Portugal to face Denmark without both its captain and one of its younger attacking options.
