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What will happen to Ronaldo's number 7 shirt?

2026-11-05 19:05:45Sport SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX

What will happen to Ronaldo's number 7 shirt?

What will happen to Cristiano Ronaldo's iconic number 7 jersey? With a single sentence, Cristiano Ronaldo ended a 22-year-old debate: "The day has come to return the number 7 jersey to our national team, to all of us."

He announced his retirement from international football with these words, published in a farewell video via his official accounts, this Thursday. His career with the national team began in 2003 and his last stop was in the match against Wales, last September.

The message was clear. The star from Madeira was passing the baton to the next generation, leaving the most famous jersey in Portugal's history vacant, in a national team now managed by Jorge Jesus.

What will happen to the number 7 shirt?

But what will happen to this shirt now? Could the number 7 be retired permanently in honor of the Portuguese legend?

The practical answer came before the theoretical debate. During the last national team training camp, Ronaldo left the camp before the match against Denmark, while Rafael Leao immediately took the number 7 shirt. This is the clearest indication of what is expected to happen next.

The rules do not allow for gaps, writes Portuguese newspaper Record. UEFA regulations require all national teams to submit the final list with the shirt numbers of the 23 players by midnight the day before the match.

No number can go unused. Someone must wear the number 7 shirt, and the same applies to every official FIFA match.

Thus, the number 7 shirt will continue to be used, passing to a new player at each national team gathering. This is not unusual.

During Ronaldo's career, in his absence, well-known names such as Nani, Ricardo Quaresma, Fabio Coentrao, Andre Silva, Bruma, Ricardo Horta and Miguel Veloso have worn this shirt. Meanwhile, players such as Pedro Neto and Trincao have sat on the bench with the same number.

FIFA Veto: Why can't the jersey be retired?

Here comes the ban that may come as a surprise to fans. The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) categorically prohibits the withdrawal and reservation of jersey numbers in men's national teams, regardless of the greatness of the player who has worn them.

Even emotional proposals to honor a legend face this obstacle.

Former legendary footballer Paulo Futre made such a proposal last October, during the Sports Foundation awards ceremony.

"If I were in the football federation, I would retire the number 7 shirt. Cristiano should leave with the greatest honors," he declared.

However, FIFA does not allow national teams to honor players by retiring their jersey numbers, unlike clubs, where such a practice is permitted.


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