Bernardo Silva Succeeds Ronaldo as Portugal Captain

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

Silva’s appointment was also confirmed by football transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano on Saturday, who wrote on X that the midfielder would succeed Ronaldo as Portugal captain.

READ ALSO: Why I Left Man City — Trafford

Portugal will host Denmark in Braga on November 14 before travelling to Cardiff to face Wales on November 17, marking the beginning of a new chapter following Ronaldo’s departure.

Speaking at a press conference at the Cidade do Futebol, Jesus explained that Portugal’s captaincy would continue to be determined by international appearances, with the most experienced players forming the leadership group.

“The player with the most international appearances after Cristiano Ronaldo is Bernardo Silva,” Jesus said, adding that the national team would maintain its established approach to selecting captains.

Silva, who has earned 115 international caps, leads Portugal’s leadership group ahead of Bruno Fernandes with 97 appearances, Rúben Dias with 84, João Cancelo with 77 and Rúben Neves with 73.

Jesus confirmed that the five players would share leadership responsibilities, with Silva taking the armband as the most-capped among them following Ronaldo’s retirement.

The appointment follows Ronaldo’s announcement on Thursday that he was retiring from international football, ending a remarkable 23-year career with Portugal.

The 41-year-old finished his international career with 234 appearances and a record 146 goals. 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 leadership qualities, praising his experience, quality and 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 assume the responsibility permanently as the European champions begin their next phase without their long-serving leader.