Portugal: What did Rafael Leão say after wearing Ronaldo's number 7?

01.10.26 FT UEFA Nations League A

Denmark

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Portugal

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Rafael Leão experienced a special moment with the Portuguese national team by wearing the iconic number 7 in the match against Denmark (4-2) in the UEFA Nations League.

Usually associated with number 17 for Portugal, the Galatasaray forward exceptionally inherited the number 7, long worn by Cristiano Ronaldo, after the latter left the national team camp.

Leão made no secret of the symbolic significance of the experience, as he has considered Cristiano Ronaldo one of his main idols since childhood.

Leão reacts after wearing Cristiano Ronaldo's number 7

After the match, the Portuguese winger said: “Wearing number 7 was special for me because Cristiano has been my idol since I was a child.”

The Galatasaray player then discussed his compatriot's reaction after the victory: "I think Cristiano Ronaldo is happy about this victory. We showed that we were one group, and I am sure he is happy at home to see this victory. I have a good relationship with him and I know his personality well."

Rafael Leão also stressed the importance of the collective: «"The team is the most important thing. We picked up three more points and are top of the group. It is now time to rest and prepare for Monday's match. The group is the most important thing, as is our reaction as a team."

The 27-year-old then acknowledged the difficulty of the match: “We knew in advance that it would be a difficult game, particularly because they were playing at home and had the support of their fans. We faced a team that resembles Norway and relies heavily on its physical strength."

Finally, Leão praised the work done by the coach:"The coach prepared us perfectly for these two matches. We started with a great deal of organisation and, when we had opportunities to score, we showed great efficiency to score four goals."

Rafael Leão now has 51 appearances for Portugal, with 6 goals and 8 assists.

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Mohamed Rek |

Editorfr, ar, en

Mohamed Rek- sports content writer with over 10 years of experience creating football content in Arabic and French for platforms such as Foot Africa and Starafrica, combining accuracy, creativity, and audience engagement.

Related teams and leagues

Denmark

Portugal

UEFA Nations League A