Cristiano Ronaldo inherits the number from Edinson Cavani, who wore the shirt last season and in the club's away win at Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend.
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Manchester United have confirmed that Cristiano Ronaldo will wear the iconic no.7 shirt after returning to Old Trafford. The Portuguese superstar famously wore the legendary shirt number during his first spell with the club. In his first six seasons at the club, between 2003 and 2009, Ronaldo made 292 appearances and scored 118 goals, winning nine trophies including three Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League.
The no.7 is a special shirt in the history of United. It has previously been worn by club icons like George Best, Bryan Robson, Eric Cantona and David Beckham. The shirt now returns to the man who succeeded Beckham in it, Ronaldo.
The Portuguese superstar has taken the jersey from Edinson Cavani, who wore the shirt last season and in the club’s away win at Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend. El Matador will switch to no.21, the same number the prolific striker wears for the Uruguayan national team.
United’s first fixture after the international break, in which Ronaldo could make his second debut, is at home to Newcastle United on Saturday 11 September.
Ronaldo served an early glimpse of his current capabilities, scoring twice against the Republic of Ireland in Portugal’s World Cup qualifier to shatter the world record for international goals. The 36-year-old who is already Europe’s top-scoring international footballer, surpassed the existing world-record mark set by former Iran forward Ali Daei.
Daei is the only other men’s player to claim a century of international goals, which he had shared since this summer’s UEFA EURO 2020. Ronaldo’s performance in the encounter held in Faro-Loulé takes his tally of goals at the international level to 111 strikes, serving a timely reminder to all those who termed his age as an area of concern.
“From all the records that I have broken during my career – and fortunately there have been a few – this one is very special for me and it’s certainly on the shelf of the achievements that make me truly proud. First of all, because every time I represent my country is a special moment, for knowing that I’m defending Portugal and showing to the world what Portuguese people are made of,” said the Portuguese superstar,
“Secondly, because national teams competitions have always had a very strong impact in me as I was growing up, watching my idols playing for their flags every other summer in Euros and in World Cups. But finally and above all, because scoring 111 goals for Portugal means 111 moments like the ones we experienced today in Algarve, moments of worldwide union and happiness for millions and millions of Portuguese citizens all around the globe. For them, every sacrifice is worth it,” he added.
Ronaldo further went on to praise Ali Daei.
“Another reason for me to appreciate this achievement as much as I do right now, is because Ali Daei has set the standards in such a high level, that at some point even I started thinking that I might never catch him. Congratulations to the “Shariar” for holding the record for so long and thanks for always showing so much respect for me every time I scored and as I became closer and closer to his outstanding number. Thank you Portugal. Thanks to all my team-mates and opponents for making this journey so unforgettable. Let’s keep meeting inside the pitch in the years to come! I’m not closing the count just yet,” he concluded.
