Bernardo Silva Named Portugal Captain After Ronaldo’s Retirement
Real Madrid midfielder Bernardo Silva has been appointed Portugal’s new national team captain following Cristiano Ronaldo’s retirement from international football, head coach Jorge Jesus confirmed.
Jesus made the announcement on Friday while unveiling Portugal’s 28-man squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League matches against Denmark and Wales.
The decision follows Portugal’s long-standing practice of selecting captains based on international appearances rather than personal preference.
Silva, 32, leads the current squad with 115 caps. He is followed in the leadership group by Bruno Fernandes (97 appearances), Rúben Dias (84), João Cancelo (77) and Rúben Neves (73).
Jesus said the five players would share captaincy duties according to their experience when needed.
“With the national team, captains are chosen based on their international appearances. Right now, there are five players with the most caps… The player with the most international appearances after Cristiano Ronaldo is Bernardo Silva,” Jesus explained.
The appointment comes after Ronaldo announced his retirement from the national team on Thursday, ending a 23-year international career.
The 41-year-old finished with a record 234 appearances and 146 goals for Portugal.
He captained the side to the 2016 European Championship title and two UEFA Nations League triumphs.
Silva paid tribute to his former teammate on Instagram, writing: “It was without a doubt a great pride and pleasure to have played by your side for so many years. You are an inspiration to all of us. Thank you for everything.”
Silva has previously worn the armband during Ronaldo’s absences and will now lead Portugal into a new era as the team prepares for its Nations League fixtures.
By Oyinkansola Shittu.
