Portugal put their perfect record on the line in the UEFA Nations League on Saturday when they host Denmark at Estádio Municipal de Braga.
Jorge Jesus’ side have already sealed a spot in the quarter-finals after winning all four matches under the new manager. João Félix and Gonçalo Ramos have scored three goals each as the Seleção start a new chapter.
Cristiano Ronaldo has played his last match for Portugal after the 41-year-old recently announced his retirement from international football.
Form guides
Portugal’s Nations League campaign began with a 1-0 win against Wales. João Félix scored at Estádio José Alvalade before Ronaldo missed a glorious opportunity, Lewis Koumas going close to equalising for the visitors.
Félix scored again in Norway but Erling Haaland equalised shortly after half-time. Gonçalo Ramos restored the advantage and went close on two occasions, the Seleção holding on under pressure to register an important 2-1 victory.
Ronaldo warmed up but was an unused substitute, didn’t thank the Portuguese supporters after the final whistle and would ultimately abandon the squad, never to return.
Jorge Jesus’ side went to Denmark and took a 2-0 lead thanks to goals from João Cancelo and Ramos. The hosts restored parity before Vitinha scored and Félix came off the bench to make it 4-2 and secure all three points.
Portugal beat Norway 2-1 in Porto where they trailed in the first half. Cancelo equalised before the break and Ramos scored again to make it three goals in three starts.
Denmark have beaten Wales twice in the Nations League, winning 2-0 in Copenhagen where they had 20-10 shots. They were dominant in a 1-0 victory in Cardiff, Rasmus Hojlund’s goal the difference as they registered 2.15-0.26 xG.
Brian Riemer’s side have found it tougher against the big guns in Group A4, losing 3-2 in Norway where they trailed 2-0 after 18 minutes.
The Danes suffered a 4-2 defeat to Portugal at Parken Stadium where they were 2-0 down, drawing level thanks to goals to Mikkel Damsgaard and Hojlund. They were unable to stop the Seleção however, ending with 0.76-2.25 xG.
Head-to-head record
Portugal have met Denmark in 15 competitive matches, leading 10-3 alongside two draws.
They met in the Nations League quarter-finals last year, Portugal deservedly beaten 1-0 in Copenhagen before a dramatic 5-2 extra time win in Lisbon.
Squads and predicted lineups
Portugal
Nuno Mendes is out with a leg injury and Francisco Conceição is suspended due to his red card in Porto. Cristiano Ronaldo announced his retirement after scoring a record 146 goals in 234 matches.
Nuno Tavares, Tomás Araújo and Rafael Leão were released which saw Gonçalo Inácio and Flávio Nazinho join the squad. Jesus called up Alberto Costa, Mateus Fernandes, Rodrigo Mora, Carlos Forbs, Geovany Quenda and Gustavo Varela.
Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa, Rui Silva, Samuel Soares
Defenders: Rúben Dias, João Cancelo, Diogo Dalot, Renato Veiga, António Silva, Gonçalo Inácio, Alberto Costa, Flávio Nazinho
Midfielders: Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, Rúben Neves, Vitinha, João Palhinha, João Neves, Mateus Fernandes
Forwards: João Félix, Rafael Leão, Pedro Neto, Gonçalo Ramos, Francisco Trincão, Carlos Forbs, Fábio Silva, Rodrigo Mora, Gustavo Varela, Geovany Quenda
Portugal (4-4-1-1): Diogo Costa; João Cancelo; Rúben Dias, Renato Veiga, Diogo Dalot; Pedro Neto, Vitinha, João Palhinha, Bruno Fernandes; João Félix; Gonçalo Ramos
Denmark
Andreas Christensen and Patrick Dorgu were not called up due to fitness concerns and Kasper Dolberg hasn’t played for his nation since September 2025.
Goalkeepers: Mads Hermansen, Filip Jorgensen, Andreas Jungdal
Defenders: Joakim Maehle, Joachim Andersen, Rasmus Kristensen, Alexander Bah, Victor Nelsson, Oliver Provstgaard, Victor Bak Jensen, Rasmus Nicolaisen
Midfielders: Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Mathias Jensen, Morten Hjulmand, Victor Froholdt, Albert Gronbaek, Mads Bidstrup
Forwards: Mikkel Damsgaard, Andreas Skov Olsen, Rasmus Hojlund, Gustav Isaksen, Jesper Lindstrom, Mohamed Daramy, William Osula
Denmark (4-4-1-1): Mads Hermansen; Alexander Bah, Joachim Andersen, Oliver Provstgaard, Joakim Maehle; Gustav Isaksen, Morten Hjulmand, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Mohamed Daramy; Victor Froholdt; Rasmus Hojlund
Quotes
Jorge Jesus
“There are seven new players compared to the last squad announcement. The fact that these athletes demonstrate, in the clubs where they play, a performance compatible with the demands of the National Team, leads us to bet on a renewal, always with our eyes on the future.
“Fábio Silva has been growing at Dortmund. In the last game, he scored a goal and provided an assist. He has characteristics very similar to what I envision for the position.
“Gustavo Varela is a young player, the top scorer in the Italian league. You need quality, and it was based on that idea that we believed in Varela’s football.
“Alberto Costa? I watched several Porto games and I consider him a right-back who has been evolving over the years. He is very strong physically and has great technical ability. He presents some positional characteristics that meet what I envision for the position. He will be a player of the future, and Portugal will have in him another great player for the national team.
“Everything that happened in the past doesn’t interest me. Of course, I thought he (Cristiano Ronaldo) would come back and that I would talk to him, call him up, but I have to respect his decision. He decided that the time had come to retire and, sooner or later, that would happen. I can’t ignore what he was and continues to be for Portugal: a symbol for the younger players who are now starting to play.
“I found out when we all found out. The decision was communicated to me yesterday, after I released the video and the statement. Until that moment, I knew nothing about it. Considering what I was doing, he was one of the players I had in my squad. Did he leave because of me? No, maybe I rushed things, but he didn’t leave because of me. I didn’t try to talk to Cristiano.
“I would always be linked to Cris’s departure from the national team during the four years of my contract with the FPF, until 2030. At any moment in this Nations League, this could happen. I would always be associated with his departure... There’s no hard feelings whatsoever. All my decisions were made with the team in mind, as a coach, always defending what I considered to be best for the group.
“(Bernardo Silva) can offer his experience. He’s going through a good phase at Real Madrid and it’s not easy to be a starter in one of the best teams in the world. I have no doubt about his value. Besides him, Portugal has players of enormous quality, who play for the best clubs in the world.
“(Geovany Quenda) hasn’t been a regular starter at Chelsea. He started in one of the last games, against Tottenham, which I watched and in which I thought he gave an excellent performance. In the other matches, he has played few minutes. He is a young player, a player with a future for the national team. I want to start integrating the younger players, not thinking about the World Cup yet, but so that they adapt to my ideas.
“I don’t know what will happen in the two games, but I know we have seven players at risk of suspension. If they get a yellow card, they won’t be able to play against Wales, and if that happens in that match, they’ll miss the quarter-finals. Since I don’t know what will happen in the first game, if any player gets a yellow card and is suspended for the Wales match, it’s not worth it.
“Coaches are always under pressure for results, obviously. What is true is that, in these four games, Portugal secured qualification for the quarter-finals. The only two teams that have managed to do so at this moment are Portugal and Spain. When you are in a National Team with the quality of ours, you feel that you can win titles, that pressure will always be the same.
“The coach doesn’t choose the captains. The choice is made based on the number of international caps. At the moment, there are five, and all of them were my players at the clubs I coached: Bernardo Silva, Rúben Dias, João Cancelo, Rúben Neves and Bruno Fernandes.
“Of course I would love to play there (Estádio da Luz) again. It’s an iconic stadium and it means a lot to me. I spent seven years as a coach there, six of which were very happy. I’ve never been at a club where I’ve won so many titles. I would very much like to play for Portugal again in that stadium.”
Alberto Costa, Portugal right-back:
“I’ve already had the opportunity to speak with Jorge Jesus, in a meeting about some defensive aspects of the tactics, and of course I’m very sorry that I won’t meet Cristiano here, it’s something I would have liked to have in my career, to share a locker room with him.
“When I heard about the call-up, it was a feeling of accomplishment and I was very happy. Regarding the fact that we’re one point short, I think the coach will want us to approach both games to win, regardless of whether we’ve qualified or not, and I have to be prepared if he gives me the opportunity and seize it with both hands.
“As for the competition... it’s a privilege, they are two teammates I know from watching games and from whom I will also learn.”
Alberto Costa, de volta a casa 🏡🇵🇹 “Foi um sentimento de concretização quando vi outra vez a Cidade do Futebol.” 🗣️ #NationsLeague https://t.co/iq05UazYTq
— Portugal (@selecaoportugal) November 10, 2026
“I don’t know if this is my best moment, I feel I’m in a good moment, also because of what we’ve been doing collectively at Porto. I want to continue this work to be called up more often.
“Regarding Cancelo, I think I have different characteristics, I have a profile more similar to Dalot’s, but I’m here to try to add to what I’ve been doing at Porto. I want to give my best. Tactical aspects... these are still things I’m going to assimilate and keep to myself.
“What I also try to work on at the club, we work a lot on the issue of support, left foot, details and some aspects that after watching the games we try to improve in the following training sessions.”
Gustavo Varela, Portugal striker:
“It’s all been very positive. The people are very welcoming, the players also received me very well, they told me how I had to do things. The U21s are in the same space, but things are done very differently here. They explained everything to me right away, they also shared some of the coach’s ideas with me, and it’s been a great experience. The way they welcomed me makes it much easier to integrate.
“Until I got here, I was nervous. Then, when I saw the players, I got even more nervous. But I started to get to know them very well and that’s already passing. I’m already in contact with them. It’s going very well.
“He’s (Jorge Jesus) a coach who really works with the players, he knows how to convey his ideas very well. He also likes to be with the players, to joke around. This makes it much easier for the players to feel good and integrate into the group.
Gustavo Varela e os nervos da primeira convocatória 🎙️🤙 #NationsLeague https://t.co/OxKG8orTTl
— Portugal (@selecaoportugal) November 11, 2026
“I try to enjoy the moment, because you never know what tomorrow will bring. That’s very much the life of a player. We don’t know what tomorrow will bring. It can change from one moment to the next. I just have to keep working so that, if things change, it won’t be a drastic change.
“Basically, I never think long-term. You can ask my family. I always think short-term, because the most important thing is tomorrow, tomorrow’s game. That’s what makes the future bright.
“I like complete forwards. Here in the National Team we have Gonçalo Ramos, Fábio Silva. I like them a lot and now that I’m training with them, I can see and improve as well. I also really like to look at the players who are in Serie A. Marcus Thuram, Pio Esposito… They are all very complete players and I also try to be as complete a player as possible.
“I’m a striker who tries to be as complete as possible, a player who can connect with his teammates, who can score goals inside the box. That’s what I try to do.”
