Fernandes snubbed as Portugal hand Ronaldo's captaincy to Silva

Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes has been passed over for the captaincy of Portugal's national football team, with Bernardo Silva selected to replace Cristiano Ronaldo following the star striker's retirement from international football. Silva, 32, will assume leadership of the team after Ronaldo's 23-year career came to an end, despite Fernandes being a strong contender for the role.

Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus explained that the decision was based solely on the number of international appearances, leaving little room for debate. Silva leads the squad in terms of caps, with Ronaldo ahead of him. The new captain will be part of a five-man leadership group alongside Ruben Dias, Joao Cancelo, Ruben Neves, and Fernandes.

Jesus stated that the principle of selecting captains based on international appearances would remain unchanged. Ronaldo's international career, which included 234 appearances and 146 goals, leaves behind a record that may take generations to match. His departure from the national team occurred following a reported falling-out with Jesus in September, following his exclusion from the starting lineup for Portugal's victory over Norway.