Bernardo Silva has been appointed Portugal's new captain following Cristiano Ronaldo's retirement from international football, ushering in a new leadership era for the national team after its most prolific player brought his record-breaking international career to an end.
Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus confirmed the appointment on Friday as he unveiled his 28-man squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures against Denmark and Wales.
Silva, who has earned 115 international caps, takes over the captain's armband following Ronaldo's announcement on Thursday, which brought an end to a 23-year international career featuring 234 appearances and 146 goals.
Jesus explained that Portugal would continue to follow its established policy of selecting captains based on the number of international appearances rather than making appointments according to personal preference.
Silva will lead a five-man leadership group that also includes Bruno Fernandes, Ruben Dias, Joao Cancelo and Ruben Neves. All five players have previously worked under Jesus at club level.
The Portuguese coach highlighted Silva's experience, technical quality and impressive form at Real Madrid, where the midfielder has established himself as a regular starter.
"Bernardo is a player with a lot of experience, with a lot of quality, who is in a good spell at Real Madrid. He is a starter for one of the best teams in the world," Jesus said.
The 32-year-old made his senior international debut in 2015 and has since established himself as one of Portugal's most reliable and consistent performers.
Silva was part of the Portuguese squad that lifted the 2016 European Championship and the 2025 UEFA Nations League trophy, having also featured in the country's 2019 Nations League triumph.
He has previously captained Portugal in Ronaldo's absence, including during the European Championship qualifying campaign.
Following Ronaldo's retirement announcement on Thursday, Silva also paid tribute to his former captain, describing the opportunity to share the pitch with him for so many years as a source of immense pride and inspiration.
"It was undoubtedly a great pride and pleasure to have played alongside you for so many years. You are an inspiration to all of us. Thank you very much for everything," Silva wrote on Instagram.