Ronaldo quits Portugal, number 7 goes to Leao

On the eve of the Nations League clash against Denmark, Cristiano Ronaldo left Portugal's training camp; the number 7, symbol of the captain, will be worn by Rafael Leao and the national team suffered a loss of about 500,000 followers on social media.

The new number 7

The Nations League regulations require that players on the roster be numbered from 1 to 23, so the number 7 cannot remain vacant. Rafael Leao, a striker who moved in the summer from Milan to Galatasaray, will wear it in the next two fixtures. Francisco Conceicao is absent due to a thigh issue, examinations have ruled out an injury.

The repercussions on social media

According to B24, the official page of the national team lost about 500,000 followers within a few hours after Ronaldo's departure. A poll by ABola attributed responsibility 78.2% to the striker, 13.7% to head coach Jorge Jesus and 8.1% to president Pedro Proença. The SOCIAL EFFECT was described as a real damage to the image of the squad.

Ronaldo's Tuesday statement keeps him in Portugal squad despite fallout

Statements and sporting context

Ronaldo confirmed on Instagram that he left the team‑camp after the coach's press conference and a meeting with the federation president, promising to explain the reasons “at an appropriate time”. Jorge Jesus said: “If you warm up for 20 or 30 minutes and then don’t get on the pitch, nobody is happy”, adding that the decision not to field him “is not a reason to do something great”.

writes that the federation has promised Ronaldo greater respect until 2027 to convince him to return, while the media reported that Prime Minister Luís Montenegro would have requested a meeting with Jorge Jesus to learn the details of the incident. The team, however, remains in good shape: the Selecao leads the Nations League group ahead of Denmark and Norway, with Wales still without points.

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The upcoming matches will be played on October 1 against Denmark and on October 4 against Norway, both at the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen, where Leao will wear the 7. Portugal hopes to maintain the group advantage despite Ronaldo's absence.