Portugal produced an emphatic response to the uncertainty surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo’s international future as they defeated Denmark 4-2 in Copenhagen, with João Cancelo, Gonçalo Ramos, Vitinha and João Félix all finding the net in an entertaining Denmark vs Portugal encounter.
The victory was particularly significant because it came in Portugal’s first match since Ronaldo left the national team camp following his omission from the starting line-up and subsequent tensions with head coach Jorge Jesus. The 41-year-old captain had been an almost permanent presence in Portugal’s side for years, but his absence gave the team an opportunity to demonstrate that there is considerable attacking quality beyond their record goalscorer.
Denmark twice fought back after Portugal took the lead, with Mikkel Damsgaard and Rasmus Højlund cancelling out goals from Cancelo and Ramos. Portugal eventually pulled away after the break, however, as Vitinha restored their advantage before João Félix completed the scoring in the closing stages.
Denmark vs Portugal Produces a Fast Start in Copenhagen
Portugal needed only 13 minutes to break the deadlock when João Cancelo finished an attack that immediately placed Denmark under pressure. The hosts responded strongly, refusing to allow the early setback to dictate the remainder of the contest.
Mikkel Damsgaard restored parity in the 23rd minute after receiving a pass from Joakim Mæhle, giving Denmark renewed confidence as the home side began to find greater attacking space against Portugal’s defence.
Their response, however, lasted only two minutes. Gonçalo Ramos put Portugal back in front in the 25th minute, with Bruno Fernandes providing the assist.
The first half therefore ended with Portugal holding a narrow 2-1 advantage, but the scoreline reflected a highly competitive contest. Denmark continued to threaten whenever they were able to move the ball quickly into attacking areas.
Rasmus Højlund eventually restored Denmark’s parity eight minutes after the restart. The striker scored in the 53rd minute after an assist from Damsgaard, bringing the score to 2-2 and giving the hosts renewed belief.
Portugal, however, showed greater efficiency when the decisive moments arrived.
Vitinha and João Félix Settle the Contest
Portugal regained the lead in the 67th minute through Vitinha, who converted a header from Bruno Fernandes’ delivery to make it 3-2.
The goal highlighted Portugal’s ability to create danger from different areas of the pitch, while Fernandes once again demonstrated his importance as a provider. His influence was evident throughout the match, with his deliveries helping Portugal repeatedly threaten the Danish defence.
Denmark were unable to produce another equaliser after Vitinha’s goal. Portugal gradually gained greater control as the match entered its final stages, forcing the hosts to chase the game while leaving more space for the visitors to exploit.
Their fourth goal arrived in the 87th minute when João Félix found the net following an assist from Diogo Dalot. The late finish effectively ended Denmark’s hopes of rescuing another point.
The 4-2 scoreline gave Portugal a convincing result in Copenhagen, although Denmark’s ability to equalise twice ensured that the visitors had to work considerably harder for the victory than the final margin might suggest.
For Portugal, the result was also notable because it arrived without Ronaldo, whose departure from the camp had dominated much of the discussion surrounding the team before the fixture.
Portugal Begin to Adjust Without Ronaldo
The result inevitably revived the debate about how the national team performs without its long-time captain, particularly because Ronaldo has occupied such a central position in Portugal’s attack for more than a decade.
Ronaldo has scored 146 international goals and earned 234 caps, making him the record goalscorer and most-capped player in men’s international football. His contribution to Portugal’s Euro 2016 triumph also remains one of the defining achievements of his international career.
However, his absence has increasingly prompted questions about how Portugal can evolve as a team as the veteran forward enters the later stages of his career.
Those questions became even more prominent after he was left on the bench during Portugal’s 2-1 victory over Norway, before subsequently leaving the national team camp following tensions surrounding his treatment by Jorge Jesus.
Statistics supplied by BBC Sport provide an interesting perspective on the debate. Portugal have recorded the same 63% win percentage with and without Ronaldo since 2017, although the team has averaged 2.6 goals per game without him compared with 2.1 when he has played.
Those figures do not establish that Portugal are better without Ronaldo, but they demonstrate why the discussion continues, particularly when the national team possesses a generation featuring players such as Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha, João Félix and Gonçalo Ramos.
A Glimpse of Portugal’s Future
The significance of the result therefore extends beyond the four goals scored in Copenhagen. It offered Portugal another opportunity to function without the player who has defined their attack for much of the modern era.
Ramos’ goal, Vitinha’s header and Félix’s late finish demonstrated that Portugal have several players capable of contributing to the scoreboard. Fernandes’ involvement in three goals further highlighted the creative resources available within the squad.
The result does not, by itself, settle the wider debate surrounding Ronaldo’s place in the national team, nor does it erase everything he has achieved for Portugal. It does, however, show that the side can produce an effective attacking performance without its veteran captain.
With the Nations League campaign continuing, Portugal will now have to balance the experience of one of international football’s greatest goalscorers with the development of a younger generation capable of carrying the team forward.
For now, the message from Copenhagen is straightforward: Portugal can score four goals, recover from two Danish equalisers and secure an important victory even when Ronaldo is not on the pitch.
