Rafael Leão has revealed the personal significance of wearing Portugal’s iconic No. 7 shirt after stepping into the number famously associated with Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Galatasaray forward wore the shirt during Portugal’s 4-2 UEFA Nations League victory over Denmark on Thursday after Ronaldo left the national team camp.
For Leão, however, the number represents much more than a change of shirt.
The Portuguese attacker revealed that Ronaldo has been his idol since childhood, making the opportunity to wear the No. 7 a particularly meaningful moment in his international career.
“It’s been special for me to wear the No. 7 shirt because Cristiano is my idol since I was a child,” Leão said.
The 27-year-old also revealed another personal reason why the number holds special significance for him.
Leão’s children were born on the seventh day of the month, adding a family connection to a shirt that has become synonymous with Ronaldo during his Portugal career.
“My kids were also born on the 7th, so I am so happy,” he added.
Leão’s appearance in the shirt came just days after Ronaldo’s departure from Portugal’s training camp created widespread attention.
Ronaldo left the squad ahead of the Denmark fixture after being an unused substitute during Portugal’s 2-1 Nations League victory over Norway. His departure led to questions about his relationship with new head coach Jorge Jesus and his future with the national team.
With Ronaldo no longer part of the squad for the Denmark match, UEFA’s squad-number regulations meant Portugal had to assign the No. 7 to another player. Leão, who normally wears No. 17 for Portugal, was given the famous number, while new call-up Fábio Silva took No. 17.
The decision attracted considerable attention because Ronaldo has worn the No. 7 for Portugal for much of his international career. The number has become closely linked to his identity and the “CR7” brand.
Leão, however, was keen to make clear that wearing the shirt was not about replacing Ronaldo’s legacy.
Instead, he approached the responsibility with respect for the player who inspired him as a youngster.
“I tried my best to respect this number, this shirt,” Leão said after Portugal’s victory over Denmark.
The winger was part of a Portugal side that produced a strong response on the pitch despite the turbulence surrounding Ronaldo’s departure.
Portugal defeated Denmark 4-2, with João Cancelo, Gonçalo Ramos, Vitinha and João Félix finding the net for Jorge Jesus’ team. The victory maintained Portugal’s positive start to their Nations League campaign and ensured that the attention surrounding Ronaldo did not prevent the team from producing a result.
For Leão, the night provided an unusual combination of responsibility and emotion.
He was not simply wearing another squad number. He was wearing the shirt that Ronaldo had made one of the most recognisable symbols in international football.
Yet his comments suggest that Leão viewed the moment through admiration rather than competition.
The forward now has the opportunity to continue wearing the No. 7 during the current international window, with Portugal preparing for their next Nations League assignment against Norway.
Whether the shirt eventually returns to Ronaldo or becomes associated with another generation of Portuguese football remains a separate question.
For Leão, the immediate message is simpler.
He has been handed the number worn by his childhood hero, and he intends to treat it with the respect he believes it deserves.
