Portugal beat Denmark 4–2 after Cristiano Ronaldo’s camp departure

Portugal beat Denmark 4–2 away in the UEFA Nations League on October 1, following Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure from their Copenhagen training camp the previous day. The result moves Portugal’s campaign forward, while the captain’s September 30 announcement leaves his international future unresolved.

UEFA’s results record confirms a third successive win for Portugal in this league phase. Ronaldo’s departure statement, meanwhile, did not announce a definitive international retirement, according to EFE: leaving that camp established neither a permanent farewell nor a date for his return.

Since our earlier report on what Ronaldo’s statement said about retirement, the Denmark fixture has been played and Portugal have another victory. Their next scheduled match is at home to Norway on October 4; the fixture list does not establish whether Ronaldo will take part.

Portugal’s Denmark result and next Nations League match

The 4–2 win followed Portugal’s 1–0 home victory against Wales on September 24 and their 2–1 win in Norway on September 27. Those three results are recorded in UEFA’s official fixtures and results listing.

The federation’s response focused on the remaining squad and its sporting objectives. It did not explain the captain’s reasons for leaving, according to EFE. Its assurance that preparations would continue therefore addressed the immediate fixtures without settling his longer-term availability.

What Cristiano Ronaldo said when he left camp

Ronaldo announced his departure on Instagram on September 30. He said he had made the decision after coach Jorge Jesus’s press conference and a conversation with federation president Pedro Proença. He did not disclose what was said in that conversation.

The captain promised to explain his reasons later, using the phrase ‘In due course’ in AFP’s account. He reaffirmed his dedication to Portugal and wished the team and all his teammates well. EFE explicitly reported that the message did not announce a definitive retirement from the national side.

Euronews reported that Ronaldo left Parken Stadium in Copenhagen in a federation van while teammates were training. Minutes earlier, Jesus had told reporters that the captain would join the session. The federation subsequently confirmed that Ronaldo had left the camp.

Why Jorge Jesus planned to start Gonçalo Ramos

Before the departure, Jesus said he expected Gonçalo Ramos to start against Denmark if his plans held. AFP reported that Ramos had scored Portugal’s winner against Norway. Jesus’s stated plan still allowed for Ronaldo to come on as a substitute if the coach considered him necessary.

Ronaldo had remained on the bench throughout the Norway victory. According to AP, Jesus acknowledged that he had expected to use him but changed his mind as the match developed. The coach said leaving him warming up for so long without bringing him on had been a mistake.

Jesus denied a rift and said disappointment at not playing was understandable. He also denied that Ronaldo had refused to train: AFP reported his explanation that the forward had been doing individual exercises for mobility and strengthening. Those were the coach’s explanations of the selection and training decisions.

What remains unknown about Ronaldo’s Portugal future

At 41, Ronaldo was Portugal’s leading scorer and most capped player, with 146 goals in 234 appearances, according to AFP. AP reported that he had previously described the 2026 World Cup as his last, without specifying when he would stop representing Portugal.

In its departure report, AP said it was unclear whether Ronaldo would remain away beyond the international break. Neither a return date nor a farewell appearance was established. His promise to explain his decision also left the detailed reasons for leaving undisclosed in that announcement.

After the October 4 Norway fixture, UEFA lists Portugal hosting Denmark on November 14 and visiting Wales on November 17. Those are the team’s scheduled commitments. Ronaldo’s participation remains a separate question that the departure statement and the published fixture list do not answer.