Portugal to face Denmark in Braga in first match without Cristiano Ronaldo

Portugal will host Denmark in Braga on Saturday night in what will be the national team’s first match without Cristiano Ronaldo after a 23-year international chapter and a Portugal career that included 234 appearances and 146 goals.

For more than two decades Ronaldo was more than the country’s leading player; he was described in the source as a defining sporting figure, a symbol of national pride and a constant presence for supporters. Daniel Sá, the executive director of the Portuguese institute of marketing administration, told the source: "According to our latest evaluation, his brand alone is worth €850m (£710m)." He added: "People identify with his story: a young boy who travelled to Lisbon alone, lost his father and achieved success through his own hard work. Portugal has a long history of great players but no one has ever enjoyed this kind of global exposure. From a marketing standpoint, I have absolutely no doubt that most of the world watched Portugal’s matches because of Cristiano Ronaldo."

Leonel Pontes, the technical director at Shanghai Shenhua who worked with Ronaldo at Sporting’s academy and later as an assistant with the national team, said the player’s worldwide recognition is evident in China. "When I tell people here in China that I’m Portuguese, the first thing they talk about is Cristiano," Pontes said. He described visiting an exhibition in Shanghai and said: "I think his departure from the national team, which was always going to happen sooner or later, wasn’t handled properly. There were mistakes on both sides [by the player and the coach] but the country missed an opportunity to pay tribute to everything he has given us." Pontes has been in China since 2023, the source states.

The squad departing from Ronaldo still contains recognised talent, with Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes, João Neves, Nuno Mendes and Diogo Costa among the names cited in the source. Petit, who played with Ronaldo for Portugal between 2003 and 2008 and now manages Santa Clara, said responsibility will shift to those players: "Ronaldo could single-handedly solve a difficult game inside the box, with a free-kick or with another set piece. We, as teammates, were aware of it. But now we have great players from top clubs, they need to stand up. For some of them, this could be their last chance [for international success]. We are getting some younger players now. But Portugal has style and game ideas to be able to reach success."

Pontes also reflected on Ronaldo’s availability and commitment, saying: "He sacrificed a great deal for the national team. He played injured, he played when he wasn’t fully fit, but he was always there. He always gave his best." Dany Mota, a Monza forward who trained with Ronaldo at Juventus and with Portugal, offered a personal example of that work ethic: "When I arrived at Juventus, I had already heard the saying: 'First to arrive at the training ground, last to leave.' I wanted to see it for myself. So, one morning, I arrived really early, went to the gym, and there he was, already working out. After a few particularly demanding days, you would naturally start to feel a little tired or less motivated but that never seemed to happen to him. He would still be swimming, running or lifting weights in the gym. He was a machine and had an endless love for the national team."

The source recalls Portugal’s history of talented squads before Ronaldo, noting the so-called Golden Generation featuring Luís Figo, Rui Costa and João Pinto, who reached the semi-finals of Euro 2000 and the final of Euro 2004 with a young Ronaldo. Maniche, who shared the dressing room with Ronaldo, said: "He had a very particular ability to turn frustration into a desire to improve. That characteristic has stayed with him throughout his career. Talent can open many doors, but it is that mentality that allows you to remain at the top for so many years." The source also recounts Portugal’s Euro triumph 12 years after 2004, observing that Ronaldo was forced off injured against France in the final but continued to support and celebrate his teammates from the sidelines.

Ronaldo’s club career is referenced in the source as continuing at age 41 with Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia. Maniche offered a view on his ongoing drive, saying: "It is a competitive mentality deeply ingrained in his personality. It is about the challenge of continuing to prove to yourself that you are good enough, that you can push beyond your own limits and sustain an extraordinary level of performance."

Portugal’s match in Braga against Denmark on Saturday night will be their first fixture without Ronaldo and will provide the immediate test of how the national team begins the next phase without their long-time captain and leading figure.