“Betrayal Is a Dish Best Served Cold”: Ronaldo’s Sister Reacts as Portugal Thrive Without Him

Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.

Portugal put the controversy surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo’s dramatic departure from the national team camp to one side on Thursday night, producing a clinical attacking display to beat Denmark 4-2 at Parken Stadium in Copenhagen and maintain their perfect record in Group A4 of the UEFA Nations League. Four different players found the net for the visitors – Joao Cancelo, Goncalo Ramos, Vitinha and substitute Joao Felix – as Portugal showed no signs of being distracted by the furore caused by their captain’s walk-out just 24 hours before kick-off.

The drama began on Wednesday when Ronaldo left the training camp hours after coach Jorge Jesus announced that the 41-year-old would not start against Denmark. In a post on Instagram, Ronaldo said: “Following the national team coach’s press conference, and after having a conversation with the Portuguese Football Federation president, I decided to leave the national team’s training camp”. He added that “in due course, I will tell the truth to all the Portuguese people about my reasons for leaving the national team, to which I have always been dedicated”. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner had already spent the entirety of Sunday’s 2-1 Nations League victory in Norway on the bench, the first time since 2008 that he had been an unused substitute for his country. Jesus, who previously managed Ronaldo at Al-Nassr, insisted there was no feud between the pair, saying: “I’m the one who makes the decisions and everybody knows that”. He acknowledged it was a mistake to send Ronaldo to warm up for as long as he did against Norway without bringing him on, but refused to apologise: “I can promise whatever I want, I’m the coach. No player will ever make a decision for me”.

Portugal took the lead inside 13 minutes when Joao Cancelo, who had been deployed in an inverted role to create overloads in central areas, found the net with a well-timed strike. The lead lasted just ten minutes. Mikkel Damsgaard curled in an equaliser for Denmark in the 23rd minute, beating Diogo Costa with a precise finish. Portugal’s response was immediate. Two minutes later, Goncalo Ramos, who had been given the nod to start up front in Ronaldo’s absence, restored the visitors’ advantage with a cute near-post finish, capitalising on the first of two assists from Bruno Fernandes. Ramos, who also set up Cancelo’s opener, repaid the faith Jesus had placed in him, and his movement throughout the first half caused persistent problems for the Danish defence.

Denmark refused to lie down. Early in the second half, Rasmus Hojlund levelled the scores again, finishing from close range past Diogo Costa. Hojlund, the former Manchester United striker, marked the goal by performing Ronaldo’s trademark “Siu” celebration, a pointed gesture given the circumstances surrounding the Portuguese captain’s absence. It was a moment of defiance from the Danes, but Portugal’s response was swift and decisive. In the 67th minute, Vitinha restored Portugal’s lead with a near-post header from a Bruno Fernandes free kick, a goal that effectively broke Danish spirits.

Fernandes was the architect of Portugal’s victory throughout the evening, delivering a creative masterclass from midfield. His vision and weight of pass constantly found gaps in Denmark’s defensive block, and his two assists were the foundation upon which Portugal built their win. The Manchester United captain was deservedly named man of the match, having recorded a performance that produced an expected goals value of 2.67 for his side. Portugal’s efficiency in front of goal was striking: despite Denmark enjoying more possession, the visitors registered ten shots on target and limited their opponents to just three on target from twelve attempts.

The result was put beyond doubt in the 87th minute when substitute Joao Felix, who had come on to replace Ramos, tucked home at the end of a swift counter-attack, sweeping a cutback from fellow substitute Diogo Dalot into the net to make it 4-2. It was Felix’s first international goal in some time and capped a performance that demonstrated Portugal’s depth in attacking positions. The win gave new boss Jesus a third victory from his first three matches in charge, following the victories over Wales and Norway.

After the match, Jesus was asked about the Ronaldo situation and said: “After the match, we’ll definitely have time to talk about it”. He also reiterated his stance on squad discipline: “I still think exactly the same way – there are players with status. That much is crystal clear. But I’ll say it again – the rules are the same for everyone. That’s a method I’ve followed throughout my coaching career and I’ll continue to follow”.

The controversy has divided opinion in Portugal. Ronaldo’s sister, Elma Aveiro, wrote on social media: “Betrayal is a dish best served cold”. Spanish football expert Guillem Balague told BBC Radio 5 Live that Ronaldo had been subjected to treatment unbecoming of a player of his stature. “He gets asked to warm up for the whole of the second half practically without coming on. There are tacit rules in football: you don’t do that to Pele, to Diego Maradona, to Lionel Messi, to Cristiano,” Balague said. He added that journalists close to Ronaldo have suggested the full story of his departure is yet to emerge, hinting at promises made to the player that were not delivered. However, former Euro Leagues podcast guest James Horncastle expressed disappointment in Ronaldo’s behaviour. “As a captain, as a leader of the team, he should still be there. He should put side before self, and it doesn’t look like he’s doing that on this occasion,” Horncastle said.

Portugal will round out the international window by hosting Norway on Sunday, when Denmark will visit Wales. Ronaldo has already left the camp and will not feature in either of Portugal’s remaining matches, throwing his international future into uncertainty. His contract with the national team, his legacy, and his pursuit of 1,000 career goals – he currently stands on 979 – all now hang in the balance. For Portugal, the victory in Copenhagen offered a glimpse of what a post-Ronaldo era might look like: fluid, dangerous, and capable of scoring goals from multiple sources. Whether that glimpse becomes the new reality depends on whether the 41-year-old’s departure is a temporary rupture or a permanent farewell. For now, Portugal march on, top of Group A4 with a perfect record, while their captain watches from afar.

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