Portugal honours Ronaldo with empty room 201 and tribute to shirt number 7

Empty room and a tribute shirt

The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) left room 201 at the Cidade do Futebol in Oeiras unoccupied during the national team's first camp since Cristiano Ronaldo's announced farewell. Ronaldo used that room for years, and the federation presented the gesture as a way of honouring 23 years with the team, 234 matches and 146 goals. Articles report that players and staff welcomed the decision, and that the room was not given to any other player for this camp.

The number 7 is the next question. Portugal's Nations League rules require players to wear shirts numbered 1 to 23 during matches, so the number had to go to someone when Ronaldo was absent from the previous Denmark game. Rafael Leão wore it in that match and explained his choice afterwards.

“Cristiano Ronaldo has been an idol since childhood. The number 7 has a special meaning for me, because it is also my children's birth date.”

Ronaldo is again absent, and a Galatasaray forward is injured, so the shirt needs a new wearer. The choice will only become public when the 23 players are named on match day, making it the third number 7 in this edition of the competition.

Tribute planned against Denmark

Portugal host Denmark in Braga on Saturday, 14 November, in the fifth round of Nations League Group A4, and the match is sold out. The squad agreed to a tribute in which all players will enter the pitch wearing number 7, and play will stop at the seventh minute. The federation is backed by UEFA and FIFA regulations, which formally prevent national teams from retiring shirt numbers, so the honour takes the form of a tribute rather than a retirement.

Ronaldo's exit closes a career of 23 years with the national team, 234 matches and 146 goals, and the squad is now working without him for the first time. Portugal's preparation takes place at the Cidade do Futebol, where the room remains vacant during this camp.

Ronaldo's son makes Under-17 debut

On Thursday, 12 November, Ronaldo's 16-year-old eldest son came on from the bench in the second half of Portugal's Under-17 match against Andorra. Portugal won 4-0, and the Under-17 side is coached by Filipe Ramos. The teenager wore number 18 and was one of the squad players who took part in the first qualifying match for the Under-17 European Championship.

His aunt and grandmother were at the match. Elma Aveiro posted on her Instagram stories afterwards.

“Today we don't see the father, but we're going to see the son.”

Fixtures and what follows

Portugal already have a place in the Nations League quarter-finals. After Saturday's match against Denmark, the senior squad travels to Cardiff on Tuesday, 17 November, to face Wales in the final match of the group stage.