From Leao to Quenda: Five players who could inherit Cristiano Ronaldo's No.7 shirt for Portugal

A fewer months ago, the thought seemed intolerable but now, it is the reality.

For the archetypal clip successful much than 2 decades, Portugal are preparing for an planetary aboriginal without the legendary Cristiano Ronaldo.

The curtain has yet travel down connected 1 of football's top planetary careers, with the five-time Ballon d'Or victor stepping distant aft 234 appearances, 146 goals, and a trophy haul that reshaped Selecao's spot successful the game.

From Euro 2016 glory to two Nations League triumphs, Ronaldo did much than pb a generation. He became the look of an full footballing nation. And with his departure comes different symbolic passing of the torch.

The iconic fig 7 shirt, worn by Ronaldo for 23 years and recognised crossed each country of the sport, is present vacant. The question facing Portugal is nary longer however to regenerate an icon, but who is acceptable to inherit the astir celebrated garment successful the country's shot history.

Rafael Leao has already worn the fig successful Ronaldo's absence, but a caller procreation appears to beryllium emerging for Portugal.

From established stars to wonderkids tipped for greatness, Sports Mole takes a look astatine the contenders waiting for their accidental to transportation 1 of the astir prestigious planetary shirts into a caller era.

The established names who could inherit Ronaldo's fig seven

Rafael Leao (Galatasaray)

Leao is possibly the closest happening Portugal person produced to a superstar winger since Ronaldo.

When the 27-year-old is successful afloat flight, his operation of physicality, explosive acceleration and adjacent power makes him astir intolerable to contain, giving the Selecao a frightening attacking outlet.

Now astatine Galatasaray aft leaving AC Milan, Leao has already taken connected the fig 7 garment during Ronaldo's caller absence. He enjoyed 3 consecutive seasons of double-digit extremity contributions successful Milan, though his planetary instrumentality inactive has country for improvement, with six goals and 8 assists successful 51 caps for Portugal.

There is small uncertainty that Leao has the quality to go Portugal's starring attacking figure, but inheriting Ronaldo's garment brings expectations that spell beyond idiosyncratic brilliance.

He indispensable present much consistently connected the planetary stage.

Joao Felix (Al Nassr)

Felix has endured an inconsistent nine vocation since his record-breaking determination to Atletico Madrid successful 2019, but helium remains 1 of Portugal's astir technically talented attacking players.

The Al Nassr forward, present lone a nine teammate of Ronaldo, offers thing antithetic to Leao. Rather than operating arsenic a accepted centre-forward, helium is astatine his champion drifting betwixt the lines arsenic a originative shadiness striker, utilizing his question and adjacent power to unlock stubborn defences.

His planetary signifier has besides been encouraging, with 21 extremity contributions successful 61 appearances for Portugal. And with Ronaldo nary longer occupying the cardinal attacking role, Felix could payment from accrued work successful a much fluid guardant line.

Pedro Neto (Chelsea)

Neto wears fig 18, which already contains a subtle motion to seven, if you're consenting to bash the maths. His explosive gait and nonstop benignant marque him a compelling contender for the role.

Injuries person regularly interrupted his progress, yet the Chelsea attacker remains a unsafe enactment erstwhile afloat fit. Blues brag Xabi Alonso has besides utilized him successful a wing-back relation this season, though his power successful the last 3rd has not disappeared, with 4 extremity contributions successful 9 Premier League appearances.

Neto whitethorn not person the aforesaid earthy goalscoring instincts arsenic Ronaldo, but his directness, crossing and quality to transportation the shot astatine velocity would springiness Portugal a antithetic benignant of attacking threat.

If helium tin support his fittingness and amended his finishing, helium could unit his mode into the conversation.

Could Geovany Quenda oregon Rodrigo Mora go Portugal's adjacent superstar?

Geovany Quenda (Chelsea)

Much similar Ronaldo, Quenda began his elder vocation astatine Sporting CP earlier earning a £40m determination to Chelsea, with the teen present hoping to travel successful the footsteps of his illustrious predecessor.

The winger has been described by erstwhile younker manager Fabio Roque arsenic a subordinate with explosive qualities, unpredictability and creativity, adjacent drafting comparisons with Arsenal's Bukayo Saka.

Quenda's performances for Portugal's younker sides person besides attracted attention, with his gait and fearless attack marking him retired arsenic 1 of the country's astir breathtaking prospects.

He is inactive waiting for his elder planetary debut and has had constricted opportunities since joining Chelsea. However, his pace, bravery successful possession and quality to run connected either flank marque him an breathtaking semipermanent campaigner to inherit the celebrated shirt.

Rodrigo Mora (Roma)

Mora is different teen who could yet go the originative heartbeat of Portugal, having already demonstrated singular method maturity for idiosyncratic truthful young.

The attacking midfielder progressed done Porto's academy and became the club's youngest nonrecreational subordinate astatine 15, earlier making his elder debut successful 2024. After helping Porto triumph the Portuguese league successful 2026, helium joined AS Roma successful August successful a woody worthy an archetypal £20m, alongside a reported £100m merchandise clause.

Mora is peculiarly awesome successful choky spaces, utilizing his imaginativeness and speedy decision-making to find passes earlier antiaircraft lines person clip to react. He has already begun gaining acquisition astatine elder level but is yet to marque his debut for Portugal, contempt antecedently receiving a call-up and being portion of the 2025 Nations League-winning squad.

At 19, determination is nary request to unreserved him into the elder side, but his ceiling is enormous. If helium fulfils his potential, Mora could go 1 of the defining players of Portuguese shot implicit the adjacent decade.

Ronaldo's fig 7 volition ne'er beryllium an casual garment to inherit, and Portugal whitethorn not instantly settee connected 1 imperishable successor.

Leao is the astir evident present-day candidate, with Felix and Neto offering established alternatives, but Quenda and Mora could yet correspond the country's astir breathtaking semipermanent possibilities.