Portugal players honor Ronaldo with his No. 7 shirt before Denmark match

Portugal's national team stepped onto the pitch wearing Cristiano Ronaldo’s famous number 7 shirt before their UEFA Nations League match against Denmark. This tribute took place at the Estádio Municipal de Braga on Saturday evening.

This was Portugal’s first match since Ronaldo announced his retirement from international football on November 5.

The 41-year-old is the record holder for both international appearances (234) and goals (146). He decided to retire after a public disagreement with head coach Jorge Jesus.

A post from Fabrizio Romano on X shared, "Portugal players, all wearing Cristiano Ronaldo shirts ahead of tonight’s game."

The choice for the whole team to wear the No. 7 jersey was made during a meeting with Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proença, coach Jorge Jesus, and senior players like Bernardo Silva, Rúben Dias, and Bruno Fernandes.

UEFA gave special permission for this gesture during a competitive match.

The players only wore the shirts during the pre-match formalities.

Another tribute was set for the seventh minute, where fans were expected to applaud Ronaldo.

Portugal also introduced a new permanent design for the number 7 shirt.

A small line now runs through the digit, making sure Ronaldo’s version of the number stays unique and serves as a lasting symbol of his career.

Portugal went into the match already qualified for the Nations League quarter-finals after winning their first four group games.

A draw against Denmark would guarantee them the top spot in the group before their last game against Wales on Tuesday.

Ronaldo's international career started in August 2003, with highlights including wins at Euro 2016 and the Nations League titles in 2019 and 2025. His last game for Portugal was a 1-0 victory over Wales on September 24.