Rafael Leão has been handed Portugal’s iconic No. 7 shirt for the next two UEFA Nations League matches following Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure from the national team camp.
UEFA confirmed that Leão, who normally wears No. 17 for the Seleção, will be listed as No. 7 for Thursday’s clash with Denmark in Copenhagen and Sunday’s home game against Norway.
Football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reported on Thursday that UEFA had confirmed Leão’s switch to No. 7 following Ronaldo’s departure.
The temporary change is required by UEFA Nations League regulations, which state that the 23-player matchday squad must use consecutive numbers from 1 to 23 without gaps.
With Leão moving to No. 7, new call-up Fábio Silva has been assigned the forward’s previous No. 17 shirt.
Ronaldo left the Portugal camp on Wednesday after being an unused substitute in the 2-1 victory over Norway on Sunday.
The 41-year-old had started Portugal’s previous game, a 1-0 win over Wales that marked Jorge Jesus’s first match in charge of the national team.
Portugal sit top of Group A4 after two wins and will face Denmark at Parken Stadium on Thursday before hosting Norway at the Estádio do Dragão on Sunday.
The No. 7 change applies to the next two Nations League matches and does not, by itself, establish a permanent change to Portugal’s shirt-number hierarchy.