SNOW TV NEWS DESK
Portugal midfielder Bernardo Silva has insisted that the national team is prepared to handle life without Cristiano Ronaldo, as the country begins a new chapter following the legendary forward’s retirement from international football.
Speaking ahead of Saturday’s Nations League meeting with Denmark in Braga, Silva acknowledged that Ronaldo’s absence would change the atmosphere surrounding the national team. However, he believes Portugal has enough experience and quality to cope with the attention and expectations that come with representing their country.
For more than two decades, Ronaldo has been the face of Portuguese football, attracting enormous attention wherever the team played. His departure leaves a significant gap, not just in terms of goals and performances, but also in leadership and global influence.
“Everyone knows the weight Cristiano carries. Most people went to the stadium to see Cristiano; many went just for him, and that’s not going to happen now,” Silva told reporters.
The Real Madrid midfielder, who is set to inherit the captain’s armband, believes the remaining players are capable of accepting the responsibility that comes with becoming the team’s main attractions.
Portugal will honor Ronaldo before the Denmark match, with reports suggesting the players could walk onto the pitch wearing his iconic number seven shirt. The tribute is a recognition of a career that has transformed the country’s footballing identity.
Ronaldo made his international debut in 2003 and finished with a remarkable world record of 234 appearances and 146 goals for Portugal. Beyond the numbers, he helped lead his country to major international honors, including the 2016 European Championship and the 2019 Nations League title.
Head coach Jorge Jesus described the planned tribute as a fitting way to celebrate a player who has become a legend of Portuguese football.
“Nobody can forget Cris’s 23 years in the national team and everything he did,” Jesus said.
Ronaldo’s possible presence at the ceremony remains uncertain, particularly following reports of tensions between him and the coach.
Nevertheless, Portugal’s immediate focus is on the future. Having already won all four of their Nations League Group A4 matches and secured qualification for the quarter-finals, the team has a strong foundation heading into this new era.
The real challenge, however, will not simply be replacing Ronaldo’s goals. It will be developing a collective identity that does not depend on one superstar.
For Silva and his teammates, Saturday’s match offers an opportunity to demonstrate that Portugal can remain a major force in international football, even without the man who carried its hopes for so long.
“Sir Bartholomew White Ebe is a Lagos-based media personality, Music Artist, Producer, and a Relationship Coach and independent journalist. With over seven years of experience tracking political developments and cultural shifts in Nigeria, he specializes in local current affairs, grassroots politics, and community-driven reporting across Lagos State. As the founder and chief editor of Snow Multimedia Connect {SNOW TV}, he leads the editorial team to deliver verified, high-impact stories to digital audiences.”
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