Portugal to Debut New Graphic Design for Number 7 Jersey
Portugal starts a new era with jersey number seven as Club Brugge winger Carlos Forbs takes the iconic shirt for the match against Denmark on Saturday in the fifth round of the UEFA Nations League, KOOORA reported.
The Portuguese Football Federation announced on Saturday via the newspaper Record that a new graphic design for the number seven shirt will debut alongside the match. This move aims to immortalize the legacy left by Cristiano Ronaldo after an international career spanning over two decades.
The federation said that the jersey will feature a distinct design while preserving the previous version to document Ronaldo’s journey with the national team. The statement said that the number will remain permanently tied to the memories, achievements, and emotions created by the Portuguese star in his country’s colors.
“This is another way of immortalizing the meaning of a very special number and honoring the legacy it represents. There are stories, memories, achievements, and emotions that will remain forever linked to Cristiano Ronaldo.”
Temporary assignment behind the new design
Head coach Jorge Jesus’s selection of Forbs for the number seven shirt is a temporary measure for the upcoming fixtures. AC Milan winger Rafael Leão stands as the primary candidate to succeed Ronaldo in wearing the number permanently in future stages, according to the newspaper A Bola.
Forbs receives the shirt now because Leão is absent from the current squad due to injury. UEFA Nations League regulations require participating teams to number their players from 1 to 23, making it mandatory to assign the number seven to an active squad member.
The federation confirmed that the new design carries the same essence and pride despite the different look. Meanwhile, the previous design remains a witness to a journey described as a story that will never be forgotten.
End of Ronaldo’s twenty-three year international career
Ronaldo ended his international career at the start of November after spending 23 years with the Portugal national team. That decision closed an exceptional chapter where his achievements intertwined with the number seven, turning the digit into a prominent mark in team history.
Fans in Portugal viewed the number not merely as a choice on the back of a jersey, but as a symbol of long participation and defining moments. The federation’s decision to alter the design while keeping the old version attempts to bridge two eras: one honoring Ronaldo’s past contributions, and another opening the door for a new generation to wear the number.
The match against Denmark marks the immediate test for Forbs wearing the historic kit. The long-term future of the shirt remains open until Leão returns to contention for the squad.