Portugal began their post-Cristiano Ronaldo era with a heavy 4-1 loss against Denmark in the Nations League in Braga, marking their heaviest competitive home defeat. Rasmus Hojlund scored two goals, complemented by a penalty from Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and a header from Joachim Andersen, while Bernardo Silva netted a late consolation goal for the home side under coach Jorge Jesus.
Ronaldo’s Retirement and Group Standing
The match served as the national team’s first fixture since the five-time Ballon d’Or winner announced his international retirement on November 5. The 41-year-old forward accumulated 243 caps and holds the record as men’s international football’s leading goalscorer with 146 goals, concluding his career following an early departure from the national team camp in September. Ronaldo remained an unused substitute during a Nations League fixture against Norway, resulting in a €255 fine and a backdated 30-day suspension. Following his departure from the squad, he published a 1,740-word statement to explain his choice and offer apologies to his team-mates.
Despite suffering their first defeat in five matches, Portugal continue to lead their Nations League group and have already secured qualification for the competition’s quarter-finals, although the final group standings remain subject to change. The team’s final group-stage fixture will take place against Wales in Cardiff on Tuesday.
Analysis From Braga
Reporting from the Estadio Municipal de Braga, senior writer Daniel Taylor observed the historic magnitude of the heavy loss during Portugal’s inaugural game after Cristiano Ronaldo’s international departure. While analysts note that the defeat cannot be attributed solely to Ronaldo’s absence—given that Portugal won their previous three matches without him—the performance shocked the home supporters, who voiced their frustration with whistling.
The final scoreline accurately reflected the run of play, highlighted by two exceptionally executed second-half goals from Rasmus Hojlund, alongside missed opportunities that could have extended Denmark’s lead further before Bernardo Silva’s final-minute goal. A pre-match banner displayed the message “Obrigado Capi7ao,” though the team’s struggles amplified the impact of the former captain’s absence by the final whistle.
