Portugal without Cristiano Ronaldo: A 7 for the history books

Who would have thought that it would happen? Cristiano Ronaldo has actually said goodbye to the Portuguese national team. Goodbye is probably a somewhat euphemistic wording regarding the public rift with national coach Jorge Jesus. In any case, the Portuguese national players were on the pitch for the very first time in 23 years in the Nations League game against Denmark on Saturday without their absolute superstar. And suffered a tough home defeat.

The Portuguese's performance was “disastrous” and they received a “rub-down,” writes the press. The defeat was definitely clear: in the end it was 4:1 for the Danes and CR7 will probably have been satisfied with that. After 146 goals in 234 international matches, he returned the number 7 jersey in a video message and said: “I never felt it was exclusively mine.” Secure?

Behind the feigned modesty, Ronaldo ultimately knows that the number 7 will not find a new Portuguese player any time soon. At the game against Denmark, his former colleagues all wore the legendary CR7 jersey when they arrived in homage to the record goalscorer with whom Portugal won the European Championship title for the first and only time in 2016. “Obrigado, Capi7ao” read a huge banner. Thank you, captain. And after the seventh minute of the game, the whole stadium applauded.

Although CR7 was not physically present, his spirit will probably remain so for a long time. In this context, the Portuguese national team now has to reorganize itself. It is certainly a challenge, but certainly also an opportunity for many new, talented players who have so far been in the shadow of the great world footballer.

By the way: Since the number 7 is not officially allowed to be banned as a national team jersey number, the Portuguese association has decided to at least change the layout of the number. “The previous number remains as a symbol of a history that will never be forgotten,” it says.