Bernardo Silva succeeds Ronaldo as Portugal captain

Portugal midfielder, Bernardo Silva

Real Madrid midfielder Bernardo Silva has been named Portugal’s new national team captain following Cristiano Ronaldo’s retirement from international football, head coach Jorge Jesus has confirmed.

Jesus announced the decision on Friday while unveiling Portugal’s 28-man squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League matches against Denmark and Wales.

As reported by Fabrizio Romano on X on Saturday, “Bernardo Silva will be the new captain of the Portuguese national team after Cristiano Ronaldo.”

Portugal will face Denmark in Braga on November 14 before travelling to Cardiff to take on Wales on November 17.

The fixtures will mark the beginning of a new chapter for the national team following Ronaldo’s departure.

Speaking at a press conference at the Cidade do Futebol, Jesus explained that the captaincy would be determined by the number of international appearances, with Silva leading the group of experienced players.

“Right now, there are five players with the most caps. Interestingly, all five of them have played for me at the clubs I’ve coached. We’ll stick with the same approach,” Jesus said.

Silva, who has earned 115 international caps, is followed by Bruno Fernandes with 97, Rúben Dias with 84, João Cancelo with 77 and Rúben Neves with 73.

Jesus confirmed that the five players would form Portugal’s leadership group, with the remaining captaincy responsibilities shared according to their international experience.

The appointment comes after Ronaldo announced his retirement from international football on Thursday, bringing an end to a remarkable 23-year career with Portugal.

The 41-year-old finished his international career with 234 appearances and a record 146 goals for the national team. He also captained Portugal to the 2016 European Championship title and two UEFA Nations League triumphs.

Silva paid tribute to Ronaldo following the announcement, describing it as a privilege to have played alongside the legendary forward.

“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 wrote on Instagram.

Jesus also expressed confidence in Silva’s ability to lead the team, praising his experience, quality and current form at Real Madrid.

“Bernardo is a player with a lot of experience, with a lot of quality, who is in good form at Real Madrid. He is a starter in one of the best teams in the world,” the Portugal coach said.

Silva has previously captained Portugal in Ronaldo’s absence and will now take on the responsibility permanently as the European champions begin their next phase without their long-serving leader.