Rafael Leão to wear Cristiano Ronaldo's number 7 for Portugal

Rafael Leão will wear the number 7 shirt for Portugal in the upcoming Nations League match against Denmark, following Cristiano Ronaldo's departure from the national team camp. The decision was reported by Corriere dello Sport, Globo, Gazeta Esportiva, and Metrópoles.

Shirt number change

Leão, who usually wears the number 17, will temporarily inherit the iconic number 7 previously worn by Cristiano Ronaldo. The move comes after Ronaldo left the Portuguese squad amid tensions, as reported by multiple sources. Corriere dello Sport described the departure as marked by "veleni e polemiche" (poison and controversy), while Metrópoles noted the ongoing crisis between Ronaldo and coach Jorge Jesus.

Context of the match

Portugal will face Denmark in the Nations League, and Leão is set to lead the attack wearing the number 7. The forward, who currently plays for Galatasaray, will take on the shirt for this fixture. According to Gazeta Esportiva, the assignment is temporary, and Leão will wear the number for the upcoming match.

The sources agree on the core facts: Leão's new number, the opponent, and the reason behind the change. However, the exact nature of Ronaldo's exit and the extent of the conflict with Jesus are not detailed uniformly. Corriere dello Sport and Metrópoles emphasize the controversy, while Globo and Gazeta Esportiva focus on the practical outcome.

Next step

Portugal's match against Denmark will be Leão's first appearance with the number 7, and fans will watch to see how he performs in the iconic shirt.