Dutch airline Transavia blocks seat 7C in tribute to Ronaldo after his international retirement

Dutch airline Transavia has blocked seat 7C on flights to Funchal, Cristiano Ronaldo’s birthplace, in tribute to the Portugal captain after his retirement from international football. The decision came around 24 hours after Ronaldo announced his retirement, according to the source.

The airline posted a photo of Ronaldo’s number 7 shirt on one of its aircraft seats and said seat 7C would be blocked on flights to Funchal. It said the city is one of around 110 destinations it serves, and that the move was intended to commemorate the player’s retirement from international football.

The source noted that the Portugal national team had not taken a similar step because FIFA and UEFA regulations prohibit retiring a player’s shirt number. It also said Ronaldo spent 23 years with the national team, winning the European Championship in 2016 and the UEFA Nations League in 2019 and 2025.