He may have reached his 40s, but Cristiano Ronaldo remains a pivotal player for the Portuguese national side. His incredible fitness regime means that he can continue to play at the highest level.
When he does retire, CR7 may forever be remembered as the greatest Portuguese player of all time. He has transformed the setup, attracting huge financial input from sponsorships around the finance and casino sectors. He has set records that are unlikely to ever be broken, but he will leave a huge hole within the squad. Who is ready to move in and become Portugal’s talisman in the future?
Putting Portugal on the map
We shouldn’t be disrespectful of some of the great Portuguese teams of yesteryear. Back in 1966, the national team was one of the strongest international sides. With the incomparable Eusébio in their ranks, Portugal made the semi-finals of the World Cup in England.
It was, however, left to Cristiano Ronaldo to lead the side to its first major trophy. In 2016, CR7 was at the peak of his powers while playing for Real Madrid. His Portugal team won the 2016 European Championships, as the whole squad responded
That victory at the 2016 Euros really helped to put Portuguese football on the map. The major clubs around the continent began to scout domestic players and more footballers followed Ronaldo’s path.
Commercial brands began to pump money into the game via advertising and sponsorship. Deals were struck with diverse operators as the funds flowed in. Cristiano Ronaldo had inspired the change and, ironically, the money will help Portuguese football to develop young talent that will eventually replace him.
Champions League Champion
The Portuguese national side will miss many aspects of Ronaldo’s play but the biggest loss will be his goal-scoring capabilities. The veteran forward has registered an astonishing 138 goals in 221 senior appearances, and that’s a phenomenal return.
In the emerging striking department, Gonçalo Ramos is a player to watch. After a promising loan spell at PSG, the forward moved to France on a permanent basis in 2023, and was part of the team that won the Champions League two years later.
Ramos came through the youth ranks before making his debut for the senior Portugal side in 2022. He’s made some important scoring contributions since that point and, in his first 16 appearances, he’s found the net on nine occasions. That scoring ratio is comparable to Ronaldo’s and Gonçalo Ramos could be the player to cover for the legend in the scoring department.
Leader of the Pack
Central defender António Silva may not offer a major goal threat, but he could provide the leadership that will be lacking when Ronaldo retires. Silva is currently playing with Portuguese giants Benfica, where his performances have attracted the attention of some major European clubs.
He’s still only 21, but António Silva is already an established member of the Portugal national side. Having made his senior debut in 2022, the defender has 17 caps, and many feel he will be a future captain of the squad.
Identikit Ronaldo
The young Portugal player most likely to take Ronaldo’s mantle in terms of becoming a world-wide superstar is Rodrigo Mora. An attacking midfielder, the teenager became the fulcrum of Porto’s offensive game at just 17 years of age in his debut season in 2024/25.
Mora returned 11 goals and 4 assists in 35 matches, most of which were either off the bench or when he was withdrawn early as his minutes were carefully managed in his first senior season. The stats are impressive for such a young player, but the quality of the goals and his all-round play is what truly makes Mora stand out as a footballer with a huge future.
Rodrigo Mora has also been a productive scorer at international youth level, and in 2025 he was called up to the senior squad for the Nations League finals.
Quenda making waves
Geovany Quenda is another youngster who has been earmarked as a future star of the Portugal national team.
The 18-year-old was a near ever-present for Sporting in their double-winning season in 2024/25, and so impressive were his performances that Chelsea duly snapped up the Guinea-Bissau born talent for a cool €50 million, although Quenda will remain in Lisbon on loan for one more season before making the switch to London.
There will never be another Cristiano Ronaldo, but Portuguese football will have to move on without him at some point. It will take a supremely talented group to cover, and each of these young stars is likely to have a role to play.
Time will tell if they can make their mark at international level, but every name on this list has the potential to make an impact.
