Portugal suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat against Denmark at the Estádio Municipal de Braga in the UEFA Nations League on Saturday marking their first match since the retirement of Cristiano Ronaldo.
Denmark Dominates in Braga
The visiting side controlled the encounter from the opening minutes, capitalizing on defensive vulnerabilities to secure an emphatic result. Pierre-Emile Højbjerg opened the scoring for Denmark in the 43rd minute by converting a penalty after a VAR review determined that Portugal defender Rúben Dias had handled the ball inside the penalty box.
Rasmus Højlund extended the lead four minutes into the second half with a precise volley from inside the penalty area following an assist from Mikkel Damsgaard. Højlund struck again in the 57th minute, receiving a through ball from Højbjerg, skipping past Renato Veiga, and driving a powerful shot past goalkeeper Diogo Costa to make it 3-0.
Joachim Andersen added a fourth in the 75th minute by heading home a corner kick. Bernardo Silva scored a late consolation goal for Portugal during stoppage time in the 93rd minute by firing home a rebound.
Pre-Match Tributes to Ronaldo
The fixture arrived shortly after Ronaldo announced his departure from international football on November 5, 2026, concluding a 23-year career with the national team. Prior to kickoff, the squad and mascots walked onto the pitch wearing jerseys featuring Ronaldo’s name and his signature number seven.
Spectators displayed a large banner that read “Thank you, captain” as the teams entered the field, and applause echoed through the stadium when the match clock reached the seventh minute. Ronaldo captained Portugal to their first European Championship title in 2016 and helped the country win the UEFA Nations League in 2019 and 2025.
The 41-year-old forward made 234 appearances and scored 146 goals for Portugal following his debut in 2003. His departure followed a difficult period involving tensions with head coach Jorge Jesus after Ronaldo was left out of the starting line-up against Norway and subsequently left the national team’s training camp, which led to a 30-day suspension from the Portuguese football federation.
Portugal Leads Group A4 Ahead of Upcoming Fixtures
Despite the setback, Portugal remains at the top of Group A4 with 12 points from five matches, having already secured qualification for the competition’s quarterfinals. Denmark sits in second place with nine points, three ahead of Norway, which defeated Wales 3-1 earlier on Saturday.
Portugal will travel to face Wales on Tuesday, November 17, 2026, needing at least a draw to guarantee first place in the group. Meanwhile, Denmark will host Norway on the same day.
