Portugal winger Rodrigo Mora dismissed taking Cristiano Ronaldo’s iconic number seven shirt on Friday, calling the legendary jersey too heavy a burden for his young career, detikSport reported.
The 19-year-old rising star addressed reporters during his maiden international call-up for UEFA Nations League fixtures in mid-November. Mora arrives in the squad following a strong start to the season with AS Roma, where he has netted four goals across nine Serie A appearances after completing a high-profile transfer from FC Porto valued at 50 million euros, according to Radar Jember.
Media inquiries quickly turned to the vacant number seven shirt following Ronaldo’s departure from international football after a distinguished 23-year career with the national team. When asked if he intended to claim the famous jersey in the future, the teenager offered a direct response.
“Tidak, saya tidak memikirkan itu. Itu terlalu berat buat saya,” Rodrigo Mora told detikSport, declining the number because the weight of expectation proved too great.
While Mora declined the famous jersey, the Portuguese Football Federation unveiled a unique tribute for the departing captain by altering the design of the number seven for future matches, with winger Carlos Forbs set to debut the redesigned kit against Denmark. Meanwhile, UEFA authorized a special seventh-minute standing ovation at the Estádio Municipal in Braga to honor Ronaldo’s historic record of 146 goals in 234 appearances.
Despite his reluctance to inherit the famous digits, Mora emphasized his deep respect for the legendary forward who shaped a generation of Portuguese footballers, noting that he previously shared a dressing room with the veteran during a September international gathering that preceded his official debut.
“Ronaldo adalah panutan buat semua pemain. Saya bersyukur pernah satu ruang ganti bareng bersamanya,” Mora told detikSport, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to train alongside his idol.
“Dia telah pensiun dan Portugal pasti berterima kasih atas segala yang diberikannya,” Mora added to detikSport, acknowledging the lasting impact of the former captain’s career.
The young attacker has transitioned swiftly to life in Italy, reflecting on a rapid ascent that began in Portugal.
Portugal continues its UEFA Nations League campaign against Denmark on Saturday evening, followed by a fixture against Wales on November 17, 2026.
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