UEFA Nations League

[monks data]

Nations League | Quarter-Finals | 2nd Leg

Mar 23, 2025 at 7.45pm UK

Estadio Jose Alvalade

Portugal
5 - 2
Denmark

(Portugal win 5-3 on aggregate)

Andersen (38' og.), Ronaldo (72'), Trincao (86', 91'), Ramos (115')
Dias (50'), Jota (75')

FT
(aet)

Kristensen (56'), Eriksen (76')
Eriksen (50'), Norgaard (66'), Andersen (105+3'), Vestergaard (120+1')

Portugal vs. Denmark: Cristiano Ronaldo sends out strong message ahead of UEFA Nations League showdown

By Matt Law, Football Editor

Published: March 23 2025 | 12:41

Last updated: March 23 2025 | 17:04

Cristiano Ronaldo insists that he would be prepared to accept not being a starter for Portugal providing that the national team are winning.

Cristiano Ronaldo has insisted that he would be prepared to accept not being a starter for Portugal providing that the national team are winning matches.

The 40-year-old won his 217th cap for his national team against Denmark on Thursday night, but he could not prevent Roberto Martinez's side from suffering a 1-0 loss in the first leg of their UEFA Nations League quarter-final.

There remain question marks surrounding his starting role for Portugal despite the fact that the striker is having another excellent season for Al-Nassr, scoring 28 times and registering four assists in 33 appearances.

Ronaldo scored five times in his five appearances in the group stage of the Nations League, meanwhile, with head coach Martinez still viewing him as a vital player for the team.

However, the experienced forward has insisted that the success of the team will always come above him.

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring for Portugal on November 15, 2024 © Imago

Ronaldo would accept being dropped by Portugal

"If I don't score and someone else scores, it's all the same to me. If Portugal has to win and I don't play, I'll sign my name right now, tell the coach and I won't play. I'll defend these colours until the death," Ronaldo told reporters.

"We can't always play well, things don't work out sometimes. I've played 50 thousand bad games, and so have my teammates. All of that is part of it, the past is the past, it's about uniting the troops and being positive."

Ronaldo's contract with Al-Nassr is due to expire at the end of June, but he is widely expected to sign a new contract.

The forward is also planning to represent Portugal at the 2026 World Cup, proving that the national team qualify, and he is expected to be in the squad for the competition even if he is no longer a guaranteed starter.

Rasmus Hojlund decided Thursday's first leg between Denmark and Portugal, with the Manchester United forward coming off the bench to make it goals in back-to-back games for the much-criticised 22-year-old.