Portugal came from behind twice to beat host Denmark 3-2 on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Parken Stadium in Copenhagen, extending an unbeaten start to the 2026-27 UEFA Nations League and keeping sole control of Group A4. The result came in a match overshadowed by Cristiano Ronaldo's absence after his abrupt exit from the national team camp.
A back-and-forth night at Parken
Denmark lost 3-2, with João Cancelo opening the scoring in the 13th minute for Portugal before Mikkel Damsgaard leveled it for Denmark in the 23rd. Gonçalo Ramos restored Portugal's lead two minutes later, and the visitors carried that edge into the break.
Denmark did not fold. Rasmus Højlund pulled Denmark level again in the 53rd minute, with VAVEL's live coverage describing how Denmark launched a brilliant counter-attack, where Damsgaard found Højlund breaking away to chip the goalkeeper for the equalizer. The response from Jorge Jesus' side was swift and decisive. Vitinha struck in the 67th minute to restore Portugal's lead for good, and the visitors held on to seal the win.
Ronaldo's shadow hangs over the result
The build-up to the match was dominated by Ronaldo's situation rather than tactics. Cristiano Ronaldo was not with his Portugal teammates for the trip to Denmark, and the 41-year-old was not injured. Ronaldo left the national team's camp amid a reported rift with head coach Jorge Jesus, a situation that traced back to being benched for the win over Norway.
The tension reportedly began when Ronaldo expected to start against Norway before Jesus turned to Gonçalo Ramos instead, who repaid the decision with the winning goal. Ronaldo did not train with the group afterward, working apart before confirming he had left camp entirely, while Jesus denied any real conflict and insisted he remains the one who makes decisions. With the captain out of the picture, Rafael Leão looked set to inherit the captain's number 7 shirt in his absence. Ramos, for his part, stepped into the central striking role and played a part in the win alongside his attacking partners.
Nuno Mendes forces a stoppage
The match was briefly interrupted in the first half when Portugal left back Nuno Mendes needed treatment on the pitch. According to beIN Sports' live coverage of the match, play remained stopped as Nuno Mendes received medical attention after picking up an injury, delaying the restart. No further details on the severity of the issue were confirmed before or immediately after the final whistle, and Portugal did not appear to be significantly affected by the stoppage as they went on to complete the comeback win.
Portugal extends its lead at the top of Group A4
The victory pushed Portugal to three wins from three matches in this Nations League campaign, building on a tally that had already stood at 6 points from two matches before kickoff in Copenhagen. Denmark, meanwhile, remained on three points after suffering their second defeat in three outings, a group in which Norway, Denmark and Portugal were seen as capable of beating one another on any given day before this round was played.
The two sides will not have long to dwell on the result. The next round of Group A4 fixtures on Sunday, October 4, sends Portugal to face Norway while Wales hosts Denmark, with the group's destiny still to be settled before the knockout phase of the competition. Portugal, chasing a third Nations League title after lifting the trophy twice before, will look to carry Thursday's resilience into that Norway test, while Denmark will need a response to stay in touch with the pack.
For Jorge Jesus, the win in Copenhagen offers some cover amid the noise surrounding Ronaldo, even if questions about the captain's international future are unlikely to fade soon. For Denmark boss Brian Riemer, conceding three goals at home against a team missing its biggest individual star will sting, even in defeat against a side with the deepest squad in the group.