Portugal secured a 4-2 victory over Denmark in a UEFA Nations League match on Thursday in Copenhagen, despite the ongoing controversy surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo’s unexpected departure from the national team’s training camp. The absence of the five-time Ballon d’Or winner marked a significant development ahead of the game, but coach Jorge Jesus emphasized the importance of focusing on the performance.

Ronaldo, who did not start the match and has been Portugal’s record goalscorer, announced his decision to leave the training camp on Wednesday via an Instagram statement. He indicated plans to later share the reasons behind his exit, expressing continued dedication to the national team. Prior to this, Ronaldo had spent the entirety of Sunday’s 2-1 Nations League win against Norway on the bench, after captaining the side in a 1-0 victory over Wales on Thursday.

Coach Jesus maintained a firm stance regarding team discipline, stating that while some players carry significant status, the same rules apply to everyone. He praised his team’s performance as “of very high standard” and noted that Portugal scored four goals, securing the win comfortably despite Denmark’s resilience.

The match opened with an early goal by Joao Cancelo in the 13th minute, setting the tone for a competitive encounter. Denmark’s Mikkel Damsgaard quickly equalized with a curling effort 10 minutes later, only for Goncalo Ramos to restore Portugal’s lead shortly afterward with a precise finish near the post. Early in the second half, Denmark’s Rasmus Hojlund leveled the score once again, but Vitinha, the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder, gave Portugal the advantage in the 57th minute by heading in a goal. Joao Felix, coming off the bench, sealed the victory with a goal in the closing minutes on a swift counterattack.

This result marked Jesus’s third win in as many games since taking charge of the Portuguese national team. The victory keeps Portugal competitive in their Nations League group while raising questions about the future following the rift involving their star player.