Cristiano Ronaldo had an eventful night as Portugal secured a thrilling victory over Denmark in the Nations League quarter-finals.
The veteran forward missed a penalty but later redeemed himself with a crucial goal before watching his team finish the job from the sidelines.
Ronaldo, wearing the captain’s armband, led Portugal onto the field in Lisbon with his team needing to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit.
The night started with frustration as he saw his early penalty saved by Denmark’s Kasper Schmeichel. His attempt was too weak, allowing the experienced goalkeeper to make a comfortable stop.
Despite the setback, Ronaldo kept pushing and eventually found the back of the net, leveling the aggregate score.
However, the match continued to be a rollercoaster, with both teams exchanging goals before Portugal forced extra time through Francisco Trincao’s late strike.
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What Ronaldo posted after Portugal seals the win
As the match moved into extra time, Portugal manager Roberto Martinez made a bold decision — he substituted Ronaldo in stoppage time.
The 40-year-old had to watch from the sidelines as his teammates pushed for the win.
Trincao stepped up again in extra time, scoring his second goal of the match to put Portugal ahead. Goncalo Ramos later sealed the victory, sending Portugal to the semi-finals with a 5-3 aggregate win.
After the game, Ronaldo shared his emotions on social media. He posted, “What a night, Portugal!” along with images celebrating the team’s success.
Before the match, he had expressed willingness to step aside if it benefited the team, and that is exactly how the game played out.
Portugal will now prepare to face Germany in the semi-finals on June 4, hoping to lift the Nations League trophy for the second time.
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