Cristiano Ronaldo Jr. has officially made his Portugal U17 debut in a 4-0 victory over Andorra. The 16-year-old nearly scored, while several senior Portugal stars watched his special moment.
OFFICIAL: Ronaldo’s Son Makes Portugal U17 Debut as Bruno Fernandes Reportedly Watches
Cristiano Ronaldo Jr. has officially made his debut for Portugal’s U17 national team, marking another important step in his young football career.
The 16-year-old forward appeared in Portugal’s impressive 4-0 victory over Andorra on November 12, during qualification for the 2027 UEFA European Under-17 Championship.
But what made the occasion even more special was the presence of several famous Portugal players watching from the sidelines.
Ronaldo Jr. makes his Portugal U17 debut
The Al Nassr youngster started the match on the bench before entering in the 73rd minute, replacing Diego Farinha.
Instead of wearing his father’s famous No. 7 shirt, Ronaldo Jr. made his U17 debut wearing No. 18.
Portugal were already leading 4-0 when he entered the pitch, thanks to two goals from Diego Farinha and strikes from Kauã Miranda and Rafael Cabral.
Despite playing only the final part of the match, Ronaldo Jr. came close to scoring his first U17 goal.
In the closing minutes, he connected with a cross from the left and sent a powerful header narrowly wide of the post.
Bruno Fernandes and Portugal stars reportedly watch
According to Portuguese newspaper A Bola, several senior Portugal internationals attended the match at the Cidade do Futebol training centre in Oeiras.
Vitinha, Rúben Neves, Gonçalo Ramos and João Félix were among the players who came to support the younger generation.
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes was present to watch Ronaldo Jr.’s debut.
However, Bruno’s attendance has not been independently confirmed by the Portuguese reports reviewed.
Ronaldo Jr.’s grandmother, Dolores Aveiro, was also at the training centre to watch her grandson’s special moment.
A new chapter for the Ronaldo family
The debut comes just one week after Cristiano Ronaldo announced his retirement from international football.
After his father’s remarkable 23-year career with Portugal, Ronaldo Jr. is now taking another step towards building his own international career.
The teenager had already represented Portugal at U15 and U16 level, recording five goals in 13 appearances before his latest promotion.
Portugal U17 will next face Bulgaria on November 14 and Serbia on November 17.
Although Ronaldo Jr. did not score on his debut, his appearance was a special moment for his family and another sign that the Ronaldo name continues to have a place in Portuguese football.
