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Cristiano Ronaldo has not announced his retirement from international football, but Portugal have already handed his iconic No. 7 shirt to AC Milan forward Rafael Leão following his departure from the national team camp.
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Ronaldo left Portugal duty less than 24 hours ago after a meeting with coach Jorge Jesus and Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proença, creating fresh uncertainty over his immediate future with the national team.
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The decision to give Leão Ronaldo’s famous shirt number has added another layer to the controversy, despite the veteran forward making no official announcement that he has ended his Portugal career.
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Ronaldo said he would explain the reasons behind his departure “in due time”, leaving the situation surrounding his international future unresolved.
October 01, (THEWILL) – Cristiano Ronaldo has not retired from international football, but Portugal have already made a striking change that has intensified speculation over the veteran forward’s future with the national team.
Less than 24 hours after Ronaldo left Portugal’s training camp, his iconic No. 7 shirt has beenhanded to AC Milan forward Rafael Leão.
The decision comes at a particularly significant moment for Portugal, with Ronaldo’s sudden departure from international duty having raised questions about his relationship with new head coach Jorge Jesus and whether the 41-year-old will continue representing his country.
Ronaldo has made no announcement that he is retiring from international football.
Instead, the Portugal captain said he would reveal the reasons behind his departure at a later date, making the decision to reassign his famous shirt number particularly noteworthy.
The veteran forward left the national team camp following an increasingly tense situation surrounding his involvement in Portugal’s latest fixtures.
Ronaldo had been left on the bench during Portugal’s 2-1 victory over Norway and subsequently missed a team training session, instead carrying out a gym session at the team hotel.
An emergency meeting was subsequently held between Ronaldo, Jesus and Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proença as the situation developed.
While the discussions initially appeared to have produced a positive outcome, Jesus made his position clear during his pre-match press conference.
The Portugal manager insisted that he remained in charge of team selection and would not allow any player or official to dictate his decisions.
“I am the manager. I am the coach, and I told the player he was not going to play,” Jesus said.
He also made it clear that his position would not change because of pressure from Ronaldo or anyone else within the federation.
“No player will ever change my mind,” Jesus added.
Ronaldo subsequently left the national team camp.
Ronaldo has not announced Portugal retirement
Despite the dramatic nature of his departure, there has been no official announcement from Ronaldo that he has retired from international football.
That distinction is important.
The former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus forward remains Portugal’s most recognisable footballer and has repeatedly demonstrated his desire to represent the national team.
Following his departure, Ronaldo issued a statement explaining that he would eventually provide his account of what happened.
“After the National Team coach’s press conference, and following a conversation with the President of the Portuguese Football Federation, I have decided to leave the National Team training camp,” Ronaldo said.
He added: “In due time, I will tell all Portuguese people the truth about the reasons that led to my departure from the national team, to which I have always dedicated myself.”
Ronaldo then wished his teammates well.
“Now is the time to wish good luck to Portugal and to all my teammates,” he said.
There was no retirement announcement in the statement.
That makes Portugal’s decision to hand the No. 7 shirt to Leão even more intriguing.
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Rafael Leão takes over Ronaldo’s famous No. 7
Leão is now set to wear the number that has been synonymous with Ronaldo throughout much of his international career.
The No. 7 has become closely associated with Ronaldo’s identity, particularly after he adopted the number during his Manchester United career before carrying it through his hugely successful spells with Real Madrid and Juventus.
He also wears No. 7 for Portugal.
Leão taking the shirt therefore represents more than a routine squad-number change, particularly given how recently Ronaldo departed the camp.
The AC Milan forward has been an important part of Portugal’s attacking options in recent years and could now find himself wearing one of the most recognisable shirt numbers in international football.
However, the change does not necessarily mean Ronaldo’s Portugal career is officially over.
There has been no confirmation from the Portuguese Football Federation that Ronaldo has retired, while Ronaldo himself has not said that he will no longer play for his country.
Instead, the decision appears to reflect the immediate squad situation following his departure.
A remarkable moment for Portugal
The timing has nevertheless created an unusual situation.
Ronaldo has spent more than two decades wearing Portugal’s colours and has turned the No. 7 shirt into a defining part of his international identity.
He is Portugal’s all-time leading goalscorer and one of the most decorated players in the history of international football.
He has also helped the country win major honours, including the 2016 European Championship and the UEFA Nations League.
For years, seeing the No. 7 shirt on another Portugal player would have been almost unthinkable.
Now Leão has been given the number at a time when Ronaldo’s future with the national team is already under intense scrutiny.
The decision is therefore likely to generate significant debate among Portugal supporters, particularly because Ronaldo’s departure happened so recently.
What does it mean for Ronaldo’s future?
For now, it would be premature to claim that Ronaldo’s Portugal career is finished.
His statement leaves the door open to a possible return, while there has been no formal retirement announcement from the player.
However, the circumstances surrounding his departure have created genuine uncertainty.
The disagreement with Jesus, Ronaldo’s decision to leave camp and the subsequent reassignment of his No. 7 shirt have all combined to make this one of the most dramatic moments of his international career.
The next step could depend heavily on Ronaldo’s promised explanation.
If he returns to the national team, Leão’s temporary use of the No. 7 could become little more than a footnote in an extraordinary episode.
If Ronaldo ultimately decides that his time with Portugal has come to an end, however, Leão’s inheritance of the number could take on far greater significance.
For now, neither possibility can be confirmed.
Ronaldo has not retired.
Portugal have not officially announced that he has ended his international career.
But less than a day after his departure from camp, the No. 7 shirt that has defined one of the greatest international careers in football has already moved to another player.
And that, more than anything, has added another layer of intrigue to the unresolved Ronaldo-Portugal situation.
Olumide Atiba is a sports journalist with THEWILL, known for his keen news sense and compelling storytelling. He has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, well-structured reports that resonate with readers, with a strong focus on football coverage
