Portugal edges Denmark 4-2 in Ronaldo's absence

Portugal edged Denmark 4-2 in the UEFA Nations League match held on October 1, 2026, at Parken stadium in Copenhagen. This victory came amidst the controversy surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo's departure from the team's training camp just a day prior. Portugal's coach Jorge Jesus sought to keep the team's focus on the match despite the distractions caused by Ronaldo's unexpected exit.

Ronaldo, who had been a pivotal member of the national team, had already been benched for the previous match, a 2-1 victory over Norway. On Wednesday, Ronaldo announced on Instagram his decision to leave the training camp after communicating with the coach and the Portuguese Football Federation president. He stated that he would later explain his reasons for leaving the team of which he has always been dedicated.

During the game, Portugal took an early lead with a goal from Joao Cancelo in the 13th minute. However, Denmark quickly equalized through Mikkel Damsgaard ten minutes later. Goncalo Ramos then restored Portugal's lead with a close-range finish just two minutes afterward. The second half saw Rasmus Hojlund equalizing once again for Denmark early in the period. Nonetheless, Vitinha, a key player for Paris Saint-Germain, managed to put Portugal back in front in the 57th minute with a header.

Joao Felix sealed the game for Portugal shortly before the final whistle with a goal during a swift counter-attack, marking a successful start for coach Jorge Jesus who achieved three wins in his first three matches. Portugal's performance was resilient, showing no signs of being affected by the media speculation surrounding Ronaldo's departure.