Portugal’s 4-2 win over Denmark has reignited debate about whether the national team can perform more effectively without captain Cristiano Ronaldo.
The victory came on Thursday at Parken Stadium in Copenhagen, Portugal’s first match since Ronaldo left the squad following a disagreement with manager Jorge Jesus. Ronaldo departed the team’s camp in the Danish capital on Wednesday after being left out of the match against Norway in the second round of the Nations League.
Portugal’s four-goal performance was notable for another reason: it was the first time in 18 years that the team had scored four goals away from home without Ronaldo. The previous occasion came against Malta in September 2008.
The latest result also added weight to statistics published by the British newspaper The Sun, which examined Portugal’s record since 2017, one year after the country won Euro 2016.
Portugal have played 126 matches during that period. Ronaldo has appeared in 98 of them, with the team winning 63% of those games. In the 28 matches he has missed, Portugal’s win rate has been slightly higher, at 64%.
The difference is more pronounced in the team’s scoring figures. Portugal have scored 210 goals in the 98 matches featuring Ronaldo, an average of 2.1 goals per game.
Without their leading goalscorer, they have scored 75 times in 28 matches, giving them an average of 2.7 goals per game. The figures point to a particularly strong attacking output in Ronaldo’s absence.
The Sun attributed part of the contrast to the type of matches in which Ronaldo plays. He is generally involved in the more difficult fixtures, where chances are limited, while he is more likely to be rested against weaker opposition, when scoring opportunities are more plentiful.
The newspaper also highlighted the range of attacking options available to Portugal over the same period. Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Rafael Leao, Goncalo Ramos, Joao Felix and the late Diogo Jota have all contributed to that depth.
That variety may become even more important when Ronaldo is not involved. Other players can make decisions more freely rather than feeling obliged to create chances for one designated goalscorer.
Portugal’s next matches are expected to provide a clearer test of those conclusions, with Ronaldo’s departure from the national team reportedly set to be permanent.
The team will face Norway on Sunday in the fourth round of the Nations League group stage. Portugal need a victory to reach the semi-finals.
Portugal lead Group D with nine points from three wins against Wales, Norway and Denmark. They are six points clear of each of those three teams.
