Portugal v Wales - UEFA Nations League 2026/27 Group A4 MD1 - Source: Getty
Portugal v Wales - UEFA Nations League 2026/27 Group A4 MD1 - Source: Getty
Portugal youngster Rodrigo Mora has ruled himself out of the running for Cristiano Ronaldo’s No.7 shirt. The 19-year-old was asked about inheriting the vacant number after Roma’s 3-0 win over Sassuolo at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday.
Mora scored Roma’s third goal in the 58th minute, finishing from Donyell Malen’s pass after Mario Hermoso had opened the scoring in the 27th and Sebastian Walukiewicz had scored an own goal. The win took the Giallorossi to second in Serie A, just a point behind Lazio.
Notably, Mora has scored in three consecutive Serie A matches now, taking his league tally to four goals. He also set up Champions League goals against Real Madrid and Manchester United. That form earned him a place in Jorge Jesus’s 28-man squad for the Nations League games against Denmark and Wales.
Speaking to DAZN after the game, Mora started by expressing his gratitude towards Cristiano Ronaldo. He stated that Portugal will always remain 'grateful' to the star striker for his contributions to the national team.
"I’m very happy. It’s a proud moment for me and my family. Regarding Cristiano, it was a pleasure to play and share the locker room with him.
He’s everyone’s idol and now he’s retired from the national team. Portugal is grateful for what he did for us and now we have to continue with what we have."
Although the No.7 shirt made famous by Cristiano Ronaldo was up for grabs, Mora revealed that he isn't even thinking about taking it up at this moment. He's happy with donning 86 on the back.
"No, no... I don’t even think about it. It’s too much. 86 is good."
Mora is still waiting for a first senior cap for Portugal, having been in the 2025 Nations League-winning squad without playing a minute.
Bernardo Silva picks up the armband as Portugal’s new captain after Cristiano Ronaldo's retirement
Cristiano Ronaldo confirmed his international retirement on Thursday, closing a 23-year career with 234 caps and 146 goals. His farewell left the captain's armband vacant, and Jesus announced the new leader within a day.
The Portugal boss confirmed Bernardo Silva as the new captain, with Bruno Fernandes, Rúben Dias, João Cancelo and Rúben Neves making up the leadership group.
The order is based on the players' seniority. Silva, 32 and now at Real Madrid, has 115 caps, ahead of Fernandes on 97, Dias on 84, Cancelo on 77 and Neves on 73.
Portugal have already qualified for the quarterfinals of the Nations League and lead Group A4 with 12 points from four games. They host Denmark in Braga on November 14, then travel to Wales three days later.