Rafael Leao described his delight at the prospect of wearing Cristiano Ronaldo’s famous No. 7 shirt for Portugal after his 4-2 Nations League win over Denmark.
The Galatasaray forward typically wears the No. 17 shirt for his country, but he was gifted the captain’s number after Ronaldo left the camp.
For Leao, the moment carried special meaning because of his admiration for the five time Ballon d’Or winner, whom he has looked up to since childhood.
The News Chronicle reports that Leao admitted he felt emotional taking on a number so closely associated with his idol and one that also holds personal significance for his family.
“Wearing the number seven was something special for me, because Cristiano has been my idol since I was a child,” Leao said after the match.
The winger added that all of his children were born on the seventh, making the occasion even more memorable.
Leao also acknowledged the responsibility that comes with wearing Ronaldo’s famous shirt and said he did his best to respect the number and Portugal’s colours.
His appearance in the No.7 shirt came as Portugal produced an impressive performance against Denmark.
With Portugal leading their group, Leao could retain the shirt when they face Norway in their next Nations League fixture.
