Portugal Honour Cristiano Ronaldo With Special Change to Iconic No. 7 Shirt

The Portuguese Football Federation announced a symbolic redesign of the No. 7 shirt following Ronaldo's retirement from international footballPortugal cannot retire the number entirely due to football regulations but found a unique way to preserve Ronaldo's version of the shirtCarlos Forbs is set to debut the redesigned No. 7 against Denmark in the UEFA Nations LeaguePAY ATTENTION: Mark YEN.com.gh as a preferred source, and our content will appear higher in your Google feed!

Portugal have found a creative way to honour Cristiano Ronaldo after the legendary forward brought his 23-year international career to a close, announcing a subtle but meaningful alteration to their famous No. 7 shirt.

The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) confirmed the change on Saturday, 14 November. Going forward, the number will carry a small line through the numeral, visually setting it apart from the original design that Ronaldo wore throughout his record-breaking time with the national side.

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Retiring the No. 7 outright was simply not an option.

FIFA regulations require national teams to use consecutive squad numbers, meaning the shirt had to remain in circulation for future players.

Rather than allow the original design to pass on without acknowledgement, the FPF opted for this symbolic distinction to keep Ronaldo's version of the number separate in football's memory.

The 41-year-old formally announced his retirement from international duty on November 5, closing a chapter that spanned more than two decades.

During that time, he made 234 appearances for Portugal, scoring a record 146 international goals, according to Transfermarkt.

He led the country to the 2016 European Championship and lifted the UEFA Nations League trophy twice, in 2019 and 2025.

The redesigned shirt will first be seen in competitive action when Portugal face Denmark in the UEFA Nations League, with Carlos Forbs expected to pull on the new No. 7, as noted by Sports Illustrated.

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While another player now carries that number forward, the gesture from the FPF ensures that the original version remains permanently tied to one man.

It is a rare tribute in international football, one that acknowledges the limits of regulation while still finding a way to preserve a legacy that may never be matched.

Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that FIFA had paid tribute to Cristiano Ronaldo following his decision to retire from international football.

The world governing body celebrated the Portuguese star's remarkable career after he announced on Thursday, November 5, that he would end his Portugal journey after the November international break.

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Godwin Nii Armah Tagoe (Sports Editor) Godwin Nii Armah Tagoe is a CAF-accredited journalist with over five years of experience in digital journalism. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Integrated Rural Arts and Industry (2016). Godwin’s career includes covering the 2023 AFCON and grassroots competitions within Ghana. He has also served as a Presenter at VNTV, a Sports Analyst at Obonu FM, and a Football Writer for a myriad of sports websites. He joined Yen.com.gh in 2024 to cover sports. Email: godwin.tagoe@yen.com.gh.