Portugal score four without Cristiano Ronaldo as attacking numbers raise fresh questions

Portugal’s 4-2 victory over Denmark has reignited the debate over whether the national side can be more effective without captain Cristiano Ronaldo.

The result came in the first match after Ronaldo left the Portugal camp in Copenhagen on Wednesday following a disagreement with manager Jorge Jesus over his omission from the team to face Norway.

Portugal responded by beating Denmark at Parken Stadium in Copenhagen on Thursday in the third round of the UEFA Nations League group stage.

It was the first time in 18 years that Portugal had scored four goals away from home without Ronaldo. The previous occasion came against Malta in September 2008.

The performance also followed statistics published by the British newspaper The Sun, which suggest Portugal’s results and scoring record have been stronger without their long-serving forward since 2017.

That was one year after Portugal won Euro 2016. Since then, Portugal have played 126 matches, with Ronaldo appearing in 98 of them. They won 63% of those games.

In the 28 matches in which Ronaldo did not play, Portugal’s win rate was slightly higher at 64%.

The clearest difference can be seen in the team’s goalscoring figures. Portugal scored 210 goals in Ronaldo’s 98 appearances, an average of 2.1 goals per game.

Without him, they scored 75 times in 28 matches, averaging 2.7 goals per game.

The Sun attributed the contrast partly to the type of fixtures in which Ronaldo has featured. He has generally played in the more difficult matches, where chances are fewer, while he has often been rested against weaker opposition, when scoring opportunities are more plentiful.

The newspaper also highlighted the depth of Portugal’s attacking options over that period, including Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Rafael Leao, Goncalo Ramos, Joao Felix and the late Diogo Jota.

That variety has appeared even more clearly when Ronaldo has been absent. The players have had greater freedom in possession and in their decision-making, without feeling obliged to look for one specific player responsible for finishing attacks.

The next matches are expected to provide a clearer test of those conclusions, with Ronaldo likely to remain away from Portugal after reportedly deciding to leave the “Brazil of Europe” permanently.

Portugal are preparing for a crucial meeting with Norway on Sunday in the fourth round of the UEFA Nations League group stage. They need to win to reach the semi-finals.

Portugal lead Group D with nine points from three victories over Wales, Norway and Denmark. The three other teams have six points fewer.