Lisbon, Nov 08 (V7N)- Cristiano Ronaldo’s retirement from international football has sparked debate over who will inherit Portugal’s iconic No. 7 shirt, which became synonymous with the superstar during his 23-year career with the national team.

Although fans have called for the number to be retired in honour of Ronaldo, football regulations make it difficult for national teams to permanently withdraw shirt numbers from use. Rafael Leão, Pedro Neto and Gonzalo Guedes have emerged as possible candidates to wear the famous jersey.

Several legendary footballers, including George Best, David Beckham, Luís Figo and Raúl González, have worn the No. 7 shirt. However, Ronaldo transformed it into one of the most recognisable brands in modern football, with the name “CR7” becoming famous worldwide.

The 41-year-old finished his international career with 146 goals in 234 appearances for Portugal, both national-team records. He made his international debut in August 2003 and initially wore the No. 17 shirt before taking over the No. 7 following Luís Figo’s retirement from international football.

Ronaldo announced his retirement on Thursday (November 5), saying it was time to return the No. 7 shirt to the national team. In his farewell message, he said the number would remain part of his legacy, even as another generation of players took it forward.

However, Portugal cannot simply retire the number in official international competitions. Tournament regulations require participating teams to allocate designated shirt numbers to their players. FIFA competitions generally require squad numbers to be assigned within a specified range, meaning the No. 7 cannot be permanently withheld.

Argentina faced a similar situation when it sought to retire the No. 10 shirt in honour of Diego Maradona. FIFA did not approve the request, and Ariel Ortega wore the number at the 2002 World Cup.

Club football is different, as clubs can retire shirt numbers in tribute to former players.

Who could be Portugal’s next No. 7?

Rafael Leão appears to be among the leading candidates. He already wore the No. 7 shirt in Portugal’s 4-2 Nations League victory over Denmark on October 1, when Ronaldo was absent from the squad. However, Portugal has yet to announce a permanent successor.

Chelsea winger Pedro Neto is another possible option, while Gonzalo Guedes has also worn the No. 7 shirt for the national team in the past.

Whoever eventually takes the number will face the challenge of stepping into a shirt closely associated with one of football’s most celebrated players.

Ronaldo’s international career may have come to an end, but his legacy will remain closely linked to Portugal’s No. 7. Whether another player can create a similarly remarkable chapter in its history remains to be seen.

END/SMA/AJ