Without Ronaldo, Portugal suffer biggest home defeat in 105 years

In their first match since Cristiano Ronaldo's formal retirement, Portugal suffered a heavy blow, losing 4-1 at home to Denmark in Braga in the UEFA Nations League. It is the biggest home defeat in the country's 105 years of competitive football.

Portugal had already secured their Nations League quarter-final place, so the match was meant to be a celebration. To honour Ronaldo, who announced his international retirement at the start of this month, Portugal's players took the field wearing his No. 7 jersey, and a tribute was shown on the stadium's big screen.

But once the match began, that emotion vanished, and the Portuguese players were booed for a listless performance.

Denmark captain Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg put the visitors ahead in the 43rd minute, after Denmark were awarded a penalty for a Ruben Dias handball.

After the break the visitors took complete control. Rasmus Hojlund doubled the lead with a volley from a team move in the 50th minute, and seven minutes later beat Dias again with a powerful shot from outside the box for his second goal.

Joachim Andersen's header in the 75th minute made it 4-0, and Portuguese supporters in the gallery began chanting Ronaldo's name. Bernardo Silva's goal in added time reduced the margin but could not prevent the defeat.

Asked after the match about Ronaldo's absence, coach Jesus said: 'What absence? If he no longer plays for the national team, what exactly are we missing? He doesn't play anymore, he is not here, he has made his decision.'

He acknowledged, however, that it is natural for supporters to remember Ronaldo, saying people will miss him and no one will forget what Cristiano achieved for the national team over 23 years.

Jesus said: 'Nobody is satisfied, nobody is happy. We were not prepared for the possibility of losing here, let alone losing 4-1.'

Portugal had previously lost a competitive home match by more than one goal only four times. The last such defeat was in 1993, a 3-1 loss to Italy in a World Cup qualifier.

Ronaldo holds Portugal's records for most goals and most appearances, with 146 goals in 234 matches. His last appearance for Portugal was the 1-0 Nations League win over Wales on 24 September.

Jesus then left Ronaldo on the bench for the next match, and after being told he was not planned for the starting eleven in the following match either, Ronaldo left the training camp and accused the coach of breaking his word. Amid these events he eventually said farewell to international football. Ronaldo had also been absent from Portugal's previous three matches—once by the coach's decision and twice after leaving the team himself.