Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon unveiled a third kit in honour of their former player Cristiano Ronaldo, with rumours flying over the future of the Al-Nassr star.
Ronaldo’s contract at the Saudi club will end in the summer, and with the Portugal legend chasing 1000 career goals, there is no hint of him retiring yet.
Ronaldo may yet choose to remain in the Saudi Pro League, where he apparently feels so at home, yet he has often been linked with a move back to Sporting, where he made his first steps in professional football.
Sporting’s move to dedicate a shirt to Ronaldo is, then, an eye-catching play on the part of the Portuguese side, who could start formal contract talks with the 39-year-old superstar in January over a deal.
“There are numbers that leave one legend: the next No.7 could be you!” Sporting said in a statement.
“In honour of Cristiano, we invite you to wear the No.7 jersey, the third kit of the 2024/25 season.
Homage to the No.7 Sporting’s unveiling video is dedicated to his famous number seven, which is the number that he wore with distinction as Man Utd, Real Madrid, Juventus and Al-Nassr.
Ironically, the only club that Ronaldo did not wear the No.7 shirt was at Sporting. Just making his breakthrough into the first team, he was given the No.28 shirt during the 2002/03 campaign that he played with the club.
Sporting’s third kit, which for the 2024/25 season will be dedicated to Cristiano Ronaldo, is coloured primarily black.
There are flashes of gold across the shirt to represent the incredible career of the Portugal legend, who has won major honours at Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus.
The defining feature, though, is the giant ‘7’ emblazoned across the centre of our shirt.
