Portugal are preparing a special farewell tribute to Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of their Nations League encounter against Denmark following the legendary forward’s decision to retire from international football.
As part of the planned gesture, every member of the Portuguese squad is expected to wear the iconic No. 7 jersey in their first match since Ronaldo announced his retirement from the national team.
According to Portuguese newspaper A Bola, the tribute will take place at the Estádio Municipal de Braga, where the players will wear Ronaldo’s famous shirt number during their entrance onto the pitch and the national anthems.
The initiative was reportedly agreed upon during a meeting on Thursday involving Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proença, head coach Jorge Jesus and the team’s three captains, Bernardo Silva, Rúben Dias and Bruno Fernandes.
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UEFA has reportedly approved a special tribute in the seventh minute of the encounter, with supporters expected to stand and applaud Ronaldo in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the national team.
The Portuguese FA’s plans also extend to the team’s accommodation. Ronaldo’s regular room at the Casa dos Atletas residence inside Cidade do Futebol has reportedly been kept vacant throughout the current international camp as a mark of respect for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
Ronaldo, 41, announced his retirement from international football on November 5 through a five-minute video posted on his Instagram account, bringing an end to his remarkable 23-year career with Portugal.
In his farewell message, the former captain addressed the Portuguese people, saying: “To the Portuguese people, the day has come for me to hand back the No. 7 shirt of our national team.”
The Al-Nassr forward concluded his international career with 234 appearances and 146 goals, making him the most-capped player and highest-scoring goalscorer in men’s international football.
He also leaves behind an impressive legacy of silverware, having captained Portugal to the 2016 European Championship, the 2019 UEFA Nations League and the 2025 Nations League title.
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