Portugal’s four-goal victory showed the quality of their attacking alternatives. It did not prove Cristiano Ronaldo has nothing left to offer his country.
Category: UEFA Nations League | Opinion
Published: October 2, 2026
By Abiodun Adewale Adeniyi | Founder & Editor, Beyond the Final Whistle
October 2, 2026 | Portugal / Cristiano Ronaldo / UEFA Nations League
Archive photograph: Cristiano Ronaldo at the 2018 World Cup. Photo: Анна Нэсси / soccer.ru, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Portugal beat Denmark without Ronaldo on Thursday, winning 4–2 in Copenhagen to maintain their perfect Nations League start. According to Reuters’ match report, João Cancelo, Gonçalo Ramos, Vitinha and João Félix scored following the captain’s departure from the squad.
The result deserves recognition. Portugal handled an uncomfortable backdrop and found enough attacking quality to overcome Denmark.
But celebrating those achievements does not require dismissing Cristiano Ronaldo.
One victory can reveal encouraging possibilities. It cannot settle every argument about a player’s remaining value, especially when the discussion extends beyond who should start the next match.
1. Portugal’s Collective Quality Deserves the Credit
Denmark twice equalised before Portugal finally pulled away. Ramos created Cancelo’s opener and scored himself following a combination with Bruno Fernandes. Vitinha later headed in Fernandes’ cross, with substitute Félix completing the scoring.
UEFA’s Matchday 3 round-up confirms the contributions behind a third consecutive victory.
The encouraging feature was the range of players involved. Goals came from different areas of the team, while the bench supplied the final breakthrough.
That is valuable for any ambitious national side. Portugal should want several routes to goal regardless of whether Ronaldo plays.
2. Ramos Made a Case for Opportunity
Archive photograph: Gonçalo Ramos against the United States, March 31, 2026. Photo: Bryan Berlin, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Ramos’ goal and involvement in the opener gave Jorge Jesus tangible reasons to trust him.
His performance deserves assessment on its own merits. Turning every good display into a referendum on Ronaldo risks overlooking what the younger striker actually contributed.
Ramos should receive opportunities because he can help Portugal win. Ronaldo’s potential role should be assessed by the same standard.
A strong squad benefits from competition. The manager’s challenge is to make that competition productive.
3. One Victory Does Not Erase Ronaldo’s Importance
There is a difference between arguing that Ronaldo should no longer start every match and claiming he no longer matters.
His experience of international pressure remains relevant. So does the possibility of using him in specific situations when Portugal need another penalty-area threat.
Those are arguments for considering a role, rather than guaranteeing one. Fitness, form and the demands of the opposition must still guide selection.
Our earlier examination of Ronaldo’s place in Jorge Jesus’ Portugal explored this balancing act. Denmark provided another piece of evidence; it did not deliver the final answer.
4. Winning Without Him Does Not Prove Causation
Portugal won while Ronaldo was absent. That alone does not establish that his absence caused the victory.
Four different scorers demonstrated attacking depth. Conceding twice also showed that this was not a flawless performance.
A fair assessment needs several matches, different opponents and evidence of consistent improvement. One result cannot tell us how the same team would perform with Ronaldo starting, coming off the bench or playing fewer minutes.
5. Respect and Competition Can Coexist
Jesus must have the freedom to choose his strongest team. Ronaldo’s achievements should also receive the respect they deserve.
Those principles can coexist. A changing role need not become a public verdict that a legendary player has nothing left to contribute.
Beyond the Final Whistle, Portugal’s victory deserves celebration because it demonstrated collective quality and resilience. But progress should be judged over time: one victory does not erase Ronaldo’s importance, just as his extraordinary past cannot guarantee his place forever.
What role should Cristiano Ronaldo have in Portugal’s next chapter: regular starter, impact substitute or a place determined by each opponent? Join the conversation on Beyond the Final Whistle.
