Denmark Thrash Portugal 4-1 in First Match After Ronaldo Retirement

Portugal suffered a heavy home defeat against Denmark in Braga, losing 4-1 on Saturday in their first match since Cristiano Ronaldo retired from international football.

The evening started with the unveiling of a permanent redesign for the No 7 icon as Portugal embraced a new dawn without their polarizing record cap holder and goalscorer, the Daily Mirror reported. Some had argued that Portugal would be better off without Ronaldo, whose performance for the national team had declined sharply before he left last month's camp abruptly. That departure led him to end his international career.

Things did not start smoothly for Jorge Jesus’ men following the departure of the ex-Real Madrid and Manchester United forward, as they suffered a heavy defeat at home. Goncalo Ramos once again spearheaded the attack, supported by Pedro Neto, Bruno Fernandes, and Joao Felix.

Portugal paid tribute to Cristiano Ronaldo before the game, but it was the other end where the goals flowed with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg opening the scoring from a 43rd-minute penalty that well and truly opened the Portuguese floodgates.

Rasmus Hojlund — who missed a chance to play alongside Ronaldo at Old Trafford by a margin of seven months — proceeded to score twice, netting his first four minutes into the second half and his second just eight minutes later. Joachim Andersen scored a fourth in the 75th minute to rub salt in Portuguese wounds.

Though Bernardo Silva managed to score during stoppage time, the result was already beyond doubt on a grim and humbling evening for the home supporters in Braga. Although this setback means Jorge Jesus’ squad must wait until the final matchday to secure Group A4 victory, Denmark would still need a win of their own alongside a Portugal defeat to overtake them at the summit.

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