A new No. 7 has appeared on the Portugal national team. Young Carlos Forbs (20, Club Brugge) appeared wearing the number 7, Cristiano Ronaldo's (40, Al Nassr) jersey number.
Forbs made his senior international debut after coming on as a substitute for Bernardo Silva (31, Manchester City) in the 11th minute of the second half in the Group F eighth match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup European qualifiers against Armenia on the 16th (KST).
Forbs was called up amid a roster change caused by Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) defender Nuno Mendes's (23) injury. From the moment he appeared, attention focused on him for wearing Ronaldo's number 7.
Ronaldo received his first red card in 226 international matches after elbowing Dara O'Shea in the previous match against Ireland. As a result he missed the Armenia match, and the symbolic No. 7 was returned to Forbs.
Even after Ronaldo's arrival there have been many players who wore No. 7. Nani, André Silva, Sérgio Oliveira, Francisco Trincão, and Pedro Neto were among them. They all wore the number temporarily, and it was customary for them to return it when Ronaldo came back.
But this No. 7 feels different from before. Under FIFA rules that say a red card for violent conduct such as elbowing, punching, kicking, biting, spitting, or striking can result in a three-match suspension, Ronaldo is likely to miss Portugal's first and second group matches at next year's World Cup.
Considering that Ronaldo himself said this tournament would be his last World Cup, the reality is approaching that Portugal must consider who will be the owner of the No. 7.
Locally, people are not taking Forbs's No. 7 lightly. TNT Sports said Portugal entrusted the No. 7 to Forbs for his senior international debut, calling it a number that carries very high expectations even temporarily, and read it as a sign of generational change in Portugal.
Forbs is a promising player who passed through Sporting CP and Manchester City's youth systems. After spells at Ajax and a loan at Wolverhampton, he has been playing for Club Brugge this season. Forbs, standing 169 cm, is known for compensating for his small stature with explosive speed and dribbling.
On the day of his debut Forbs still made his presence felt. In the 27th minute of the second half, using his characteristic breakthrough and dribbling, Forbs earned a penalty and contributed to Bruno Fernandes's goal.
More interestingly, Portugal was even more explosive without Ronaldo that day. Gonçalo Ramos (1 goal, 1 assist), Bruno Fernandes, and João Moutinho each recorded hat tricks as Portugal completed a 9-1 rout.
This was Portugal's largest margin of victory since the 9-0 rout of Luxembourg in 2023. At that time Portugal also missed Ronaldo due to accumulation of yellow cards.
Head coach Roberto Martinez had built the team around Ronaldo. But the Armenia match is being evaluated as a game that confirmed a team that can operate without Ronaldo. Global outlet The Athletic also analyzed that Portugal did not miss Ronaldo at all.
Portugal's qualification for the World Cup finals is already secured. The problem is that if it becomes real that Ronaldo will be difficult to use early in the group stage, Martinez may have to make a decision. That could put the owner of the No. 7 back on the table.
According to the Portuguese Football Federation, Forbs said in the locker room after the match, "I'm happy to make my debut. I'm glad we won and now we've qualified for the World Cup. Congratulations everyone."
[OSEN]