Portugal honors Cristiano Ronaldo with special jersey design and tribute against Denmark

The Portuguese Football Federation will introduce a special graphic design for the number 7 on jerseys to honor Cristiano Ronaldo during a match against Denmark. This tribute follows the announcement of the footballer's retirement from the Portuguese national team in early November 2026. The match is part of the fifth round of the Nations League Group A4 and will take place at the Estádio Municipal in Braga on Saturday at 21:45 Romanian time.

Special tribute and jersey design

The Portuguese Football Federation has received approval from UEFA to implement these commemorative initiatives. Because UEFA regulations prevent the official retirement of jersey numbers, the federation will use a new graphic design for the number 7 to honor the legacy of Cristiano Ronaldo. This design will be visible starting from the upcoming match against Denmark.

The tribute includes several symbolic elements to celebrate the career of the veteran footballer. During the 7th minute of the match, players and child mascots will wear jerseys featuring the number 7 and the surname Ronaldo. A symbolic tribute involving player applause for Cristiano Ronaldo is also scheduled for the 7th minute of the match.

The decision to move forward with these tributes was finalized during a meeting involving several key figures. Participants in the meeting included Pedro Proença, the President of the Portuguese Football Federation, and national team coach Jorge Jesus. The meeting also included captains Bernardo Silva, Rúben Dias, and Bruno Fernandes.

Legacy of Cristiano Ronaldo

The initiatives aim to immortalize the achievements of Cristiano Ronaldo, whose international career spanned 23 years. Since his debut in August 2003, the footballer has earned 234 caps and scored 146 goals for the Portuguese national team. The Portuguese Football Federation stated that the story of his career will never be forgotten and that the federation wants to immortalize the importance of the special number and honor the legacy it represents.

The federation also noted that there are stories, memories, achievements, and feelings that will always be connected to Cristiano Ronaldo. His trophy cabinet includes winning the European Championship in 2016 and the Nations League in 2019 and 2025.

Match details and context

The upcoming match against Denmark marks the first game played by Portugal following the retirement of Cristiano Ronaldo. The match is scheduled for Saturday at 21:45 Romanian time at the Estádio Municipal in Braga. This fixture is a critical part of the fifth round of the Nations League Group A4.

Glossary

• Nations League — The Nations League is an annual men's international volleyball tournament. It is organized by the FIVB.
• UEFA — UEFA is Europe's governing body. It organizes the UEFA Futsal Championship, a quadrennial international futsal championship for the men's national teams of Europe.
• European Championship — The UEFA European Championship is one of the three major professional tournaments available to European nations. It is one of the competitions in which the Slovenia national football team competes.