Portugal secured a 4-2 Nations League victory over Denmark, offering a glimpse of how the team could look without Cristiano Ronaldo.
Joao Cancelo and Goncalo Ramos twice put Portugal ahead, but Denmark responded through Mikkel Damsgaard and Rasmus Hojlund.
Hojlund celebrated his goal with Ronaldo’s famous “Siuuu” celebration before Vitinha restored Portugal’s lead with a header from Bruno Fernandes’ delivery. Joao Felix then sealed the win late in the match.
The victory came after Ronaldo left Portugal’s camp following his omission from the starting lineup in the team’s previous match against Norway. It was the first time since 2008 that the 41-year-old had been an unused substitute for his country.
Ronaldo’s Future Remains A Talking Point
Ronaldo remains Portugal’s record international goalscorer, with 146 goals from 234 appearances, but questions about his role have increased as he has moved into the later stages of his career.
Portugal coach Jorge Jesus said his selection policy would apply equally to all players, despite the status of established stars.
Ronaldo’s sister, Elma Aveiro, also appeared to address the situation on social media, posting: “Betrayal is a dish best served cold.”
Ronaldo has been central to Portugal’s success for years, including their Euro 2016 triumph. However, the debate over whether the national team performs differently without him has continued.
Since 2017, Portugal’s win percentage without Ronaldo has been slightly higher than when he plays, at 64% compared with 63%. The team has also averaged 2.7 goals per game without him, compared with 2.1 with him.
The figures provide context to an increasingly prominent question around Portugal: how should the team balance Ronaldo’s extraordinary international record with the next generation of players?
Main Image: BBC
