Rafael Leão given Portugal's number 7 shirt after Ronaldo exit

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·1 October 2026

Rafael Leão given Portugal's number 7 shirt after Ronaldo exit

It's been a dramatic few days for Portuguese football with Cristiano Ronaldo's exit from the national team. However, there is a new number 7: Rafael Leão.

The revised squad list for Portugal ahead of their game against Denmark in Copenhagen this evening gives a glimpse of a Ronaldo-less future for the national team. Jorge Jesus's team have gone with the talented, if inconsistent, Galatasaray forward to take what will be a weighty shirt as the 'CR7' era fades.