Portugal Suffers 4-1 Defeat to Denmark in Nations League Without Ronaldo

BRAGA: Portugal faced a humiliating 4-1 defeat against Denmark in their Nations League match on Saturday, marking their first game without superstar Cristiano Ronaldo following his retirement from international football.

Rasmus Hojlund was the standout performer for Denmark, scoring two goals that propelled his team into second place in Group A4. With this victory, Denmark now has nine points from five matches, just three points behind Portugal, who had already secured qualification for the quarter-finals after winning their first four group games.

This loss raises concerns for Portugal as they prepare for their upcoming match against Norway, who recently triumphed 3-1 over Wales. A draw in that game would ensure Denmark’s progression, while Portugal aims to rebound from this setback and avoid further disappointments.

“There are no nights to forget; it was a night of learning, of seeing the mistakes we made,” said Portugal midfielder Bruno Fernandes. “Denmark were also very clinical — they scored from the chances they had, and it was a match where things ultimately went wrong for us.” Ahead of the match, Portugal honored Ronaldo, acknowledging his contributions to the national team.