SUMMARY
- Cristiano Ronaldo has been continuously wearing the number 7 kit for Portugal since 2007.
- Bruma was assigned the kit number in the absence of the Al-Nassr player.
Cristiano Ronaldo is perhaps Portugal soccer’s flagbearer. The 39-year-old has converted Portugal, which had enjoyed little success in the past, into a force to be reckoned with.
The Al-Nassr player has saved his nation’s reputation at important events by scoring some very clutch goals. A hero in his home country, Cristiano Ronaldo has won Portugal only two major trophies in history: the UEFA Nations League in 2019 and the Euros in 2016.
Cristiano Ronaldo contributed 67% of Portugal’s goal on the way to winning Euro 2016. pic.twitter.com/u6J2v14eWw
— TCR. (@TeamCRonaldo) May 1, 2021
However, in recent times, the former Real Madrid player has been heavily criticized by journalists from his own country. Many of them believe that the Portugal NT should move on from their all-time top scorer as he’s approaching the end of his career. The debates were sparked once more when Cristiano’s absence in the game against Sweden in 2024 created a new debacle.
Why did Cristiano Ronaldo not play against Sweden?
His fans were shocked to see CR7 not on the teamsheet. The Portuguese have been in terrific form for his national team, scoring 10 goals in nine games for Portugal in 2023. The soccer world was worried that Roberto Martinez, the coach of Portugal, had finally started to make way for younger players at the expense of Cristiano Ronaldo. However, all of their fears went away after the Spanish coach gave updates on CR7’s selection.
However, it was later confirmed that the Al-Nassr player was dropped to reduce his workload, and his snubbing wasn’t due to any tactical reasons. Given Cristiano’s mature age and the ensuing Euros in Germany, the Portugal NT does not want to take any risks with the Al-Nassr player’s fitness.
Recharging in Saudi Arabia with the family! ❤️@VisitSaudi @VisitRedSea pic.twitter.com/zmsqSWX6zj
— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) March 20, 2024
Cristiano also used this hiatus to his advantage after spending quality time with his family in Saudi Arabia. Besides, the 39-year-old was one of eight players, along with the likes of Diogo Jota, Joao Felix, Ruben Neves, etc., who were dropped for the game.
The Portuguese captain was back in action for his country in a friendly against Slovenia on March 26, 2024. However, his return wasn’t too satisfactory, as Portugal lost 2-0, ending its 11-game winning streak.
The soccer community is divided about Bruma wearing the no. 7 kit for Portugal
The Portuguese winger, who plays his club soccer for SC Braga, earned a rare distinction in the game against Sweden. The 29-year-old became the first player since 2007 to wear the number 7 kit for Portugal. Cristiano Ronaldo has made the number his own for 14 years, but his absence from the game paved the way for Bruma to take over the number.
And Bruma made sure that Portugal did not miss Cristiano Ronaldo on that day. The SC Braga winger scored the fourth goal for his country as Portugal defeated Sweden 5-2 on the night. His terrific performance on the pitch against Sweden might make him a strong contender to take the No. 7 kit away from Cristiano Ronaldo.
However, the task still looks like a very mammoth one. The former Manchester United player is quite synonymous with the number 7, which he has worn throughout the majority of his career. Cristiano Ronaldo’s kit number is not an ordinary one, as it is a brand in itself.
Cristiano Ronaldo turned that jersey number into the rage it is today. pic.twitter.com/vxGghc5cza
— TCR. (@TeamCRonaldo) August 26, 2022
The term ‘CR7’ is perhaps one of the most popular nicknames given to any player in soccer. His number 7 kits were famous at Manchester United, Juventus, Real Madrid, and now at Al-Nassr. Soccer fans across the globe have bought these kits in huge numbers, making Cristiano’s kits one of the best-selling ever.
So, Cristiano Ronaldo’s kit number is not just an ordinary one but carries a lot of commercial value. And to think that Bruma can outsell Cristiano’s number 7 kit jersey would be a far-fetched value.
A player like Bruma can never bring a similar kind of value to the number 7 kit for Portugal as Cristiano Ronaldo has done. The SC Braga player will be 30 years old this year and has never played in a World Cup or a Euro. On the other hand, CR7 had already established him as an all-time great and put his nation on the soccer map by the time he turned 30.
Bruma has managed to earn only 12 caps during his career, and given his age, it looks highly unlikely that he would even be able to cross 75 caps. While Cristiano Ronaldo already has 206 caps for his country and is showing no signs of stopping.
Perhaps it is not the incompetence of Bruma, but the extraordinary career that Cristiano has had that makes it difficult for the 29-year-old to inherit the number 7 kit from the Al-Nassr player. Perhaps nobody in the soccer world could have done what Cristiano Ronaldo has with his country.
It will be a gigantic task for him to make the Portuguese people forget about the 39-year-old. Bruma has proved himself in just one game, while Cristiano Ronaldo has been putting up match-winning performances for his country for almost two decades.
Therefore, Bruma will find it a lot more difficult to live up to the expectations that the number 7 kit will bring with it. Besides, it is also speculated that the SC Braga wearing the number 7 kit was a temporary measure and will have to revert back to his usual number 17 jersey once CR7 returns.
Many of the Portuguese players of modern times, such as Joao Felix, Rafael Leao, Bruno Fernandes, etc., have grown up idolizing CR7. And in our opinion, even the above-mentioned players, with all their glory and records, do not deserve the number 7 kit.
Portugal could have taken notes from the history of retiring kits
Since neither Bruma nor any other Portuguese player deserves to wear the number 7 kit for the national team, the Portuguese FA should rather consider retiring the kit number for good. This would be the perfect send-off to their biggest-ever legend, who has done unimaginable things for his nation. However, soccer fans won’t be surprised by the move, as many clubs and countries have retired kit numbers in the past.
South American nation Argentina had retired the number 10 in honor of Diego Maradona for a brief period, before bringing it back. Besides, the country is thinking of doing the same with Lionel Messi’s number 10 kit.
Birmingham City will retire the number 22 shirt following Jude Bellingham’s transfer to Borussia Dortmund.
— Birmingham City News (@BCFC_News) July 23, 2020
The procedure of retiring kit numbers of legendary players is prevalent at the club level too. SSC Napoli has barred any of its players from wearing their beloved legend Diego Maradona’s number 10 shirt.
Birmingham City FC retired the number 22 kit worn by Jude Bellingham after he transferred straight from the EFL Championship to Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund. Other notable kit numbers to be retired include Javier Zanetti’s number 4 kit for Inter Milan and the number and Brazilian legend Pele’s number 10 kit for New York Cosmos.
Cristiano Ronaldo also deserves to have a place on the list of these legends. The 39-year-old has done everything he could for his nation, and it is time that Portugal acknowledges his unwavering love for the country.