Denmark stunned Portugal 4-1 at the Estadio Municipal de Braga on Saturday, 14 November 2026, in a UEFA Nations League League A Group 4, Matchday 5 clash — Portugal's first match since Cristiano Ronaldo's retirement from international football, and their first defeat of the campaign after four straight wins.
The game stayed goalless for 43 minutes. Then a VAR review penalised Ruben Dias for handball, and Denmark captain Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg stepped up to convert the penalty, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead at half-time. The home crowd had earlier marked the seventh minute with a stadium-wide ovation for Ronaldo, whose international retirement closed one of football's great eras.
Denmark ran riot after the restart. Rasmus Hojlund doubled the lead in the 50th minute, finishing off a move involving Mikkel Damsgaard, and struck again seven minutes later to complete a rapid brace and make it 3-0. Joachim Andersen added a fourth in the 75th minute, rising to head home Mathias Jensen's free-kick delivery.
Portugal's only reply came deep into stoppage time, when Bernardo Silva — the new full-time captain, who had come on in the 79th minute — pulled one back in the third minute of added time. It was no more than a consolation on a night when Denmark were sharper in both boxes.
Hojbjerg was at the heart of everything for Denmark. As well as the penalty, the captain was involved in the build-up to Hojlund's second goal, and his leadership steadied the visitors whenever Portugal pressed for a way back into the game.
The result avenged Denmark's 4-2 defeat to Portugal in Copenhagen on 1 October 2026, and it was a first win over the Portuguese in some time — Denmark had lost four of their previous five meetings with Portugal. For Portugal coach Jorge Jesus, taking charge of the post-Ronaldo era, there is now a response to find before Tuesday's final group game.
The standings still favour Portugal, who stay top of Group A4 on 12 points, but Denmark move up to second on nine, ahead of Norway on six and Wales on three. Portugal have already secured a quarter-final place; Denmark need only a draw at home to Norway on Tuesday to join them, while Norway must win in Copenhagen to overtake the Danes. The top two teams in each League A group advance to the two-legged quarter-finals in March 2027.
It was also Portugal's heaviest defeat of the Nations League campaign — their only loss in five games, after four straight wins. Tuesday's deciders both kick off at 19:45 GMT: Denmark host Norway in Copenhagen, while Wales host Portugal in Cardiff.
Portugal vs Denmark 1-4: Brief Scores
| Match | Portugal vs Denmark, UEFA Nations League League A Group 4, Matchday 5 |
| Date | Saturday, 14 November 2026 |
| Venue | Estadio Municipal de Braga, Braga |
| Result | Portugal 1-4 Denmark |
| Denmark scorers | Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg 43' (penalty), Rasmus Hojlund 50', 57', Joachim Andersen 75' |
| Portugal scorer | Bernardo Silva 90+3' |
| Group position | Portugal 1st (12 points); Denmark 2nd (9 points) |