Rafael Leão opened up about his emotions after wearing Portugal’s iconic No. 7 shirt against Denmark. Usually wearing No. 17 for the national team, the forward took Ronaldo’s number after the five-time Ballon d’Or winner left the squad. The moment carried special meaning for Leão, who grew up admiring his national-team teammate.
“Wearing the number 7 shirt was special for me, because Cristiano has been my idol since I was a child,” Leão said after the match. The AC Milan forward had only worn the No. 7 once before at club level, during his 2018-19 season with LOSC Lille.
Leão inherited the shirt during a turbulent period for Portugal. Ronaldo left the squad following tensions with head coach Jorge Jesus, creating an unusual situation around one of the most iconic numbers in Portuguese football.
For Leão, however, the shirt represented much more than a number: it connected him to the player he had admired since childhood.
