Galatasaray and Portugal forward Rafa Leão has revealed the special significance of wearing the No. 7 shirt, saying the famous jersey allows him to honour his childhood idol, Cristiano Ronaldo.

Leão, who has worn the number during his career, said Ronaldo’s influence on him began from childhood and made wearing the shirt particularly meaningful.

“It’s been special for me to wear the No. 7 shirt because Cristiano is my idol since I was a child,” Leão said, according to a report by Fabrizio Romano on Saturday.

Beyond his admiration for Ronaldo, Leão said the number also carries a personal significance for his family, as his children were born on the seventh day of the month.

“My kids were also born on the 7th, so I am so happy,” he added.

The Portuguese forward said he has made efforts to respect the history and significance associated with the shirt while expressing satisfaction with Portugal’s victory.

“I tried my best to respect this number, this shirt. I am happy with the win,” Leão said.

The No. 7 shirt has long been associated with Ronaldo, who wore the number for Portugal and several of his clubs, helping make it one of the most recognisable numbers in modern football.

Leão’s comments came after Portugal secured a convincing victory over Denmark, with João Cancelo, Gonçalo Ramos, Vitinha and João Félix among the players who found the net.

For Leão, however, the occasion carried an additional personal meaning as he continues to wear a number closely connected to the player who inspired him as a young footballer.

England produced a dominant display in Rijeka on Saturday, thrashing Croatia 7-0 to inflict the European side’s heaviest defeat in

their history in the UEFA Nations League.

The Three Lions took control from the opening minutes and raced into a four-goal lead before half-time at Stadion HNK Rijeka.

Captain Harry Kane opened the scoring in the eighth minute, finishing clinically after running onto a threaded pass from Jude Bellingham.

Bellingham doubled England’s advantage in the 21st minute before Anthony Gordon added a third goal in the 39th minute.

England continued to press forward and were rewarded again in first-half stoppage time when Bukayo Saka made it 4-0.

Kane scored his second goal of the evening in the 53rd minute, further extending England’s commanding advantage.

Saka then completed his brace in the 68th minute to put England six goals ahead before substitute Morgan Rogers rounded off the emphatic victory with England’s seventh goal in the 87th minute.

The result represented Croatia’s first-ever seven-goal defeat and eclipsed their previous heaviest losses, including a 5-1 defeat to England in 2009.

Bellingham was at the heart of England’s attacking performance, finishing the match with one goal and three assists.

Kane and Saka also stood out, with both players scoring twice as England dismantled the Croatian defence.

The match was played in front of an unusual crowd of approximately 6,000 schoolchildren after Croatia were handed a UEFA spectator sanction following previous incidents involving supporters.

England’s commanding victory lifted them to six points in Group A3, level with Spain, who had a game in hand at the time of the match.

The result further underlined England’s attacking strength as they began their Nations League campaign with an emphatic statement in Croatia.

Kenyan middle-distance runner Naomi Korir has recounted how a childhood medical condition, multiple surgeries and social stigma nearly ended her dreams of becoming an athlete.

Korir, who was born with a congenital fistula, suffered continuous urine leakage caused by an abnormal opening between her bladder and vagina.

The condition made it difficult for her to train and compete, but her passion for sports kept her involved in athletics despite the physical and social challenges she faced.

Speaking as reported by BBC Sport on Friday, Korir said she participated in several sports while growing up, including football, netball, athletics and rugby.

“I played most of the sports activities: football, netball, athletics, even rugby,” she said.

“But it was difficult because of the training, and the urine is flowing continuously.”

The condition eventually forced Korir to reduce her running activities and focus on shorter distances. She later began competing in the 100m hurdles while continuing to pursue her interest in athletics.

Beyond the physical difficulties, Korir also faced social isolation because of her condition, making her childhood sporting journey even more challenging.

She underwent two operations, but both failed to permanently correct the problem.

In August 2013, at the age of 13, Korir underwent a third operation at Gynocare Hospital in Eldoret. The surgery was successful and finally provided the relief she needed.

The treatment also gave her the opportunity to pursue athletics without the same difficulties that had previously affected her training and participation.

Caroline Mabeya, director of Gynocare Hospital, said women living with fistula frequently face both physical complications and social stigma.

According to her, many sufferers are ostracised by their communities, adding that the psychological impact of the condition can be severe.

“They are ostracised in society. That’s the psychological torture that they face with the fistula,” Mabeya said.

Following her successful treatment, Korir continued to develop as a middle-distance athlete.

Her determination and progress eventually earned her a place at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

She went on to reach the final of the mile event, finishing fifth.

Korir’s appearance at the Commonwealth Games marked a significant turnaround in her life, coming after years in which her medical condition had affected both her sporting ambitions and social life.

Her journey from dealing with a congenital fistula and repeated unsuccessful surgeries to competing on the Commonwealth stage highlights the challenges faced by athletes whose sporting ambitions are complicated by health conditions and social stigma.