Denmark thrash Portugal 4–1 in Braga as Højlund scores twice in Portugal's first match without Ronaldo
Denmark beat Portugal 4–1 at the Estádio Municipal de Braga on Saturday night in the UEFA Nations League, in Portugal's first match since Cristiano Ronaldo's international retirement. Pierre-Emile Højbjerg's penalty put Denmark ahead just before half-time, Rasmus Højlund scored twice in seven second-half minutes, Joachim Andersen headed a fourth, and Bernardo Silva's stoppage-time goal was only a consolation for the hosts.
Key points
- Portugal 1–4 Denmark in Braga — a heavy home defeat in Portugal's first match since Ronaldo's international retirement.
- Højbjerg's penalty (43') opened the scoring; Højlund struck twice (50', 57') and Andersen headed the fourth (75').
- Bernardo Silva's stoppage-time goal was Portugal's only reply.
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- Portugal remain top of their Nations League group despite the defeat.
What happened
Portugal had beaten Denmark 4–2 in Copenhagen on Matchday 3, and had already sealed a quarter-final place before Saturday's game. Denmark arrived in Braga and reversed that result emphatically, scoring once before the break and three times in a ruthless half-hour after it.
For Portugal the night was framed by absence: the first match since Cristiano Ronaldo's international retirement began with a stadium ovation for him in the seventh minute and ended with his successors chasing a game that had long gone.
Match facts — all verified
- ✓ VerifiedDenmark beat Portugal 4–1 at the Estádio Municipal de Braga on Saturday 14 November in UEFA Nations League League A Group 4, Matchday 5. Denmark led 1–0 at half-time.UEFA — 2026/27 Nations League league-phase fixtures and results (updated 14 Nov 2026, 21:30 UTC) · Sportradar match record — Portugal vs Denmark, Nations League A4, Matchday 5 (14 Nov 2026) · Soccer Laduma — Portugal start post-Ronaldo era with Denmark defeat (14 Nov 2026)
- ✓ VerifiedDenmark's goals were scored by Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, from a penalty in the 43rd minute after a handball by Rúben Dias, Rasmus Højlund in the 50th and 57th minutes, and Joachim Andersen with a header in the 75th minute. Bernardo Silva scored Portugal's goal in the third minute of added time.Soccer Laduma — Portugal start post-Ronaldo era with Denmark defeat (14 Nov 2026) · United In Focus — Fernandes and Dalot in Portugal's heavy defeat by Denmark (14 Nov 2026, 21:42 UTC)
- ✓ VerifiedThe match was Portugal's first since Cristiano Ronaldo's international retirement, and the home crowd marked it with a stadium-wide ovation in the seventh minute.Soccer Laduma — Portugal start post-Ronaldo era with Denmark defeat (14 Nov 2026) · United In Focus — Fernandes and Dalot in Portugal's heavy defeat by Denmark (14 Nov 2026, 21:42 UTC)
- ✓ VerifiedDespite the defeat, Portugal remain top of their Nations League group, and they play Wales away on Tuesday.United In Focus — Fernandes and Dalot in Portugal's heavy defeat by Denmark (14 Nov 2026, 21:42 UTC)
What we know / what we don't know yet
What we know
- The result, the scorers and the half-time score are settled across UEFA's record and the match reports.
What we don't know yet
- The full updated League A Group 4 table — UEFA had not published it in the reporting read.
- Any injury news from the match — none was reported in the sources read.