In Copenhagen, Portugal arrived for a Nations League night at Parken without Cristiano Ronaldo after the captain left the squad camp following a dispute with Jorge Jesus, deepening an abrupt rupture at the start of the coach’s tenure.
How the Portugal dispute unfolded
- Portugal opened Group A4 with a 1-0 win over Wales in Lisbon, then took a 2-1 victory against Norway in Oslo.
- Ronaldo started Jorge Jesus’s first match in charge, but tension emerged during the win in Norway when the forward was reportedly told he would be used late in the game and did not enter the pitch.
- The 41-year-old did not take part in Portugal training on Tuesday or Wednesday.
- After Jorge Jesus addressed his decision not to use Ronaldo in a Wednesday press conference, the forward spoke with the president of the Portuguese Football Federation and chose to leave the camp.
- Ronaldo indicated that he would explain his side of the episode later, saying: “At the right time, I will tell the truth.”
Portugal face Denmark in Copenhagen
Portugal were due to meet Denmark at Parken Stadium in the Danish capital on Sunday, 1 October 2026, in the third round of Nations League Group A4. Kick-off was set for 15:45 Brasília time, with Ukrainian referee Mykola Balakin appointed.
The Portuguese lead the group on six points from two matches, having defeated Wales at home before winning in Oslo. The Denmark fixture now arrives under the shadow of Ronaldo’s departure rather than the momentum created by those opening results.
Expected Denmark line-up
Jorgensen; Kristensen, Andersen, Provstgaard, Maehle; Hjulmand, Hojbjerg; Isaksen, Damsgaard, Daramy; Hojlund.
Coach: Brian Riemer.
Expected Portugal line-up
Diogo Costa; João Cancelo, Rúben Dias, Renato Veiga, Nuno Mendes; Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes, João Neves; João Félix, Pedro Neto, Gonçalo Ramos.
Jorge Jesus faces the task of taking Portugal through the Copenhagen match without the player who had begun his international reign in the starting side.
