Bruma made his way into the history books as he became the only player, barring Cristiano Ronaldo, to wear Portugal’s iconic No.7 shirt since 2007.
Cristiano Ronaldo had to watch on as one of his Portugal team-mates wore his iconic No.7 shirt – the first time another player has worn that jersey for 17 years.
The 39-year-old has been his country’s No.7 since swapping the No.17 jersey in 2007 after Luis Figo retired from international football following the 2006 World Cup. But for the first time in 17 years, Portugal fans were cheering on an unfamiliar face in the iconic number.
Bruma started the match on the bench but was introduced in the second half by manager Roberto Martinez. He made the most of a rare opportunity by scoring Portugal’s fourth goal after Bruno Fernandes’
superb assist.
Ronaldo was not included in Roberto Martinez’s squad for the final international break before the start of Euro 2024 because he’s currently on holiday with his family in Saudi Arabia to rest and prevent any injuries before the competition.
It was a special night for Bruma who got the opportunity to take the field with the No.7 on his back. Just like Ronaldo, the winger grew up at Sporting and has always looked up to him for inspiration.
“I met him for the first time as a youngster and a few times since, most recently as part of the national team,” Bruma had told Sport Bild in a past interview.
“We always have a good chat. He’s my biggest idol, but it feels more like a friendship. He’s the best footballer in the world. He’s a great person, a role model for everyone, especially the youngsters. That’s why he’s so important to the young players currently in the national team. Everyone’s always watching him in training and doing things the same way. If Ronaldo was always mouthing off or skipping training it’d influence the youngsters. But he’s a quiet guy and very professional. That’s plain for everyone to see,” he added.
Bruma might have to settle with his usual No. 17 as Ronaldo is expected to return to the fold against Slovenia on Tuesday.
