For about eight minutes on March 23, 2025, Portugal looked like they might be heading out of the Nations League. Denmark had just taken a 2-1 lead at Estadio Jose Alvalade, and Cristiano Ronaldo had just skied a penalty over the bar. Then Francisco Trincao walked off the bench. By full-time, Portugal had turned a possible exit into a 5-3 second-leg thrashing, winning 5-4 on aggregate and moving into the semi-finals. Here’s what the confirmed lineups looked like for both legs, and what the numbers say about how the tie unfolded.

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Match Date: Mar 23, 2025 · Final Score: Portugal 5-3 Denmark (AET) · Competition: Nations League · Portugal GK: Diogo Costa · Key Forward: Cristiano Ronaldo

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Portugal 5-3 Denmark AET on Mar 23 (Sky Sports)
  • Trincao came off bench, scored twice in 2 minutes (Sky Sports)
  • Roberto Martinez used 4-3-3 formation (BeSoccer)
2What’s unclear
  • Denmark full bench lineup details not confirmed in all sources
  • Ronaldo’s exact injury status post-match remains private
  • Portugal’s semi-final opponent was not confirmed at time of publication
3Timeline signal
  • Denmark 1-0 win first leg on Mar 20, 2025 (Sky Sports)
  • Ronaldo missed penalty in 6th minute of second leg (Sky Sports)
  • Trincao subbed on at 81′, scored at 86′ and 91′ (Sky Sports)
4What happens next
  • Portugal advances to Nations League semi-finals (Sky Sports)
  • Future fixture scheduled Nov 14, 2026 (Sky Sports)
  • Denmark winless in last 4 games heading into quarter-final (Sky Sports)
Label Value
Date 23 Mar 2025
Score Portugal 5-3 Denmark (AET)
Venue Estadio Jose Alvalade
Portugal Formation 4-3-3
Denmark Formation 4-2-3-1
Key Player Cristiano Ronaldo

Who scored for Portugal vs. Denmark?

The second leg at Estadio Jose Alvalade produced more drama than the first. Rasmus Kristensen put Denmark ahead 2-1 on the night in the 56th minute, and things looked bleak for Portugal when Ronaldo sent his 6th-minute penalty over the bar. But an own goal from Joao Andersen in the 38th minute had already drawn Portugal level, and Ronaldo redeemed himself by scoring in the 72nd minute to put Portugal ahead on the night.

The match went to extra time, where substitutes Francisco Trincao and Goncalo Ramos took over. Trincao scored at the 86th and 91st minute — just two minutes apart after coming on at the 81st. Goncalo Ramos added the final goal in the 115th minute. Denmark’s aggregate lead had evaporated in the space of 34 second-half and extra-time minutes.

Bottom line: Trincao turned a likely exit into a rout. He came on with 10 minutes left in regulation, scored twice in the first half of extra time, and essentially decided the tie before Ramos put the result beyond doubt.

Portugal 5-3 Denmark Final Score

Both legs combined, Portugal scored eight goals across the tie while conceding four. The first leg in Copenhagen on March 20 saw Denmark win 1-0 at Telia Parken in front of 36,322 spectators, with Rasmus Hojlund scoring the winner in the 78th minute after coming on as a substitute in the 69th. The second leg on March 23 attracted 47,123 to Estadio Jose Alvalade, where Portugal’s extra-time surge completed a 5-4 aggregate comeback.

Who missed the penalty in Portugal?

Cristiano Ronaldo missed a penalty in the 6th minute of the second leg on March 23, 2025. The shot went over the bar, leaving Portugal trailing Denmark 1-0 on the night and 1-0 down on aggregate. Ronaldo was later substituted and reportedly departed with an injury concern, though Portugal’s medical staff did not release specific details about his condition.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s reaction to missing a penalty

Ronaldo’s response to the missed penalty was immediate — he scored in the 72nd minute to give Portugal the lead on the night. The sequence from penalty miss to goal covered 66 minutes, and it came at a stage of the match when Portugal had already drawn level through Joao Andersen’s own goal.

The catch

Ronaldo missed the penalty but scored 66 minutes later. For Portugal, the tradeoff was temporary panic versus permanent legacy — a miss that would have mattered only if Portugal had lost, but a goal that cemented their semi-final place.

Has CR7 ever won the Nations League?

Portugal won the inaugural UEFA Nations League in 2019, defeating the Netherlands 1-0 in the final in Porto. Ronaldo was part of that squad. The 2024-25 edition represents a chance to win it again. The quarter-final victory over Denmark moves Portugal one step closer to that potential trophy.

Cristiano Ronaldo achievements

Ronaldo’s Nations League record with Portugal includes the 2019 triumph. In that tournament, he scored a hat-trick against Switzerland in the semi-final. His overall international record stands at over 130 goals for Portugal, making him one of the most prolific scorers in international football history.

Has Ronaldo scored 75% of Portugal’s goals?

A recurring statistical theme in discussions about Portugal’s attack is that a high percentage of their goals have come via Ronaldo. Based on Portugal’s goal tally in competitive matches and Ronaldo’s scoring record, the figure of approximately 75% has been cited in various analyses. This reflects both Ronaldo’s continued prolificacy and Portugal’s reliance on his finishing in key matches.

Portugal national team goal stats

Portugal topped their Nations League group with 4 wins from 6 games against Scotland, Croatia, and Poland. Ronaldo’s contribution in those matches and the Denmark tie reflects his central role in Portugal’s attacking structure under Roberto Martinez. The 5-3 second-leg victory included four different scorers — Andersen (own goal), Ronaldo, Trincao, and Ramos — suggesting Portugal has scoring depth, though Ronaldo remains the focal point.

Can CR7 play the 2026 World Cup?

At the time of the March 2025 Nations League matches, Ronaldo was 40 years old. His continued participation in international football depends on form, fitness, and selection decisions by Martinez. The 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico would take place when Ronaldo is 41. Whether Portugal’s manager views that as a viable selection option will depend on his performance in upcoming qualification matches and tournaments.

Portugal’s chances

Portugal have not lost to Denmark since October 11, 2011 — a span of nearly 14 years. That record suggests Portugal remain competitive at the senior international level regardless of individual player ages. The question is less about whether Portugal can compete and more about whether Ronaldo will be the player Martinez turns to in knockout matches at a World Cup.

What to watch

Ronaldo’s injury after the Denmark second leg is worth monitoring. If it affects his availability for upcoming fixtures, Portugal will need to rely on the scoring depth that Trincao and Ramos demonstrated in Lisbon. The 2026 World Cup window is closing, and Portugal cannot afford to plan around an unavailable captain.

Portugal XI (Sporting News prediction) Portugal confirmed XI (Sky Sports) Difference
Meireles Costa (1), Dalot (5), Dias (3), Inacio (14), Mendes (19), Silva (10), Vitinha (23), Fernandes (8), Conceicao (16), Ronaldo (7), Leao (17) Goncalo Inacio started in defense instead of Veiga; Bernardo Silva moved to midfield; Conceicao started on the wing
Denmark prediction: Schmeichel, Kristensen, Andersen, Vestergaard, Maehle, Hjulmand, Norgaard, Lindstrom, Eriksen, Damsgaard, Biereth Denmark confirmed: Schmeichel (1), Kristensen (13), Andersen (2), Vestergaard (3), Dorgu (7), plus others Dorgu featured at left-back; Lindstrom and Eriksen played different positions; Biereth not in starting XI
GiveMeSport predicted Portugal (4-3-3): Costa; Dalot, Dias, Silva, Mendes; Vitinha, Joao Neves; B Silva, Fernandes, Leao; Ronaldo Confirmed Portugal: Costa; Dalot, Dias, Inacio, Mendes; Vitinha, Bernardo Silva; Fernandes, Conceicao, Leao; Ronaldo Antonio Silva not in final XI; Inacio played instead; Joao Neves did not start; Conceicao started over predicted attackers

Three predictions from GiveMeSport, Sporting News, and Sports Illustrated each suggested slightly different XI compositions, and the actual lineups from Sky Sports and UEFA showed where pre-match analysis diverged most: Portugal’s defense and midfield had the most variation, with Goncalo Inacio and Bernardo Silva slotting into positions that predictions gave to other players.

Specification Detail
First Leg March 20, 2025 · Telia Parken, Copenhagen · 36,322 attendance
First Leg Score Denmark 1-0 Portugal
Second Leg March 23, 2025 · Estadio Jose Alvalade, Lisbon · 47,123 attendance
Second Leg Score Portugal 5-3 Denmark (AET)
Aggregate Score Portugal 5-4 Denmark
Portugal Manager Roberto Martinez
Denmark Manager Brian Riemer
Formations Portugal 4-3-3 · Denmark 4-2-3-1

Twelve verified data points across both legs give a precise picture of the tie’s physical and tactical dimensions: two stadiums, two dates, two very different scorelines, and two managers with different philosophical approaches to their XI selection.

Timeline

Date Event
Denmark 1-0 Portugal first leg at Telia Parken (36,322 attendance)
Rasmus Hojlund subbed on 69′, scored winner 78′
Portugal 5-3 Denmark second leg AET at Estadio Jose Alvalade
Ronaldo missed penalty 6′, scored 72′; Andersen OG 38′
Trincao scored 86′, 91′ (after sub at 81′); Ramos scored 115′
Future scheduled fixture: Portugal vs Denmark

Confirmed

  • Portugal lineup from Sky Sports and UEFA official records
  • Denmark first leg starting XI from Sky Sports
  • Second leg scores and goal timings from Sky Sports and ESPN
  • Ronaldo missed penalty in 6th minute of second leg
  • Roberto Martinez used 4-3-3 formation
  • Portugal topped group with 4 wins from 6 games

Unconfirmed

  • Denmark full second leg XI from some sources not verified
  • Ronaldo injury details not officially disclosed
  • Portugal’s semi-final opponent not yet determined
  • Future Nov 2026 fixture confirmation pending official schedule

What sources said

Denmark striker Rasmus Hojlund came off the bench to net the winner as his side beat Portugal 1-0.

ESPN News Services

Portugal haven’t lost to Denmark since October 11, 2011, a 2-1 defeat in Copenhagen that came as part of a Euro 2012 qualifying campaign where Denmark beat Portugal home and away.

Sports Illustrated

The upshot

Denmark arrived at the quarter-final having qualified from a group that included Spain, with eight points — a credible performance that suggested they could challenge Portugal. But Portugal’s second-leg response, powered by Trincao’s two-goal cameo, showed why they topped a group with Scotland, Croatia, and Poland. For Denmark, the lesson is familiar: they can beat Portugal in one leg, but not across two.

Portugal’s 5-3 extra-time victory over Denmark in the Nations League quarter-finals demonstrated that even when Ronaldo misses a penalty, even when Denmark leads on aggregate deep into the second leg, and even when the atmosphere at Estadio Jose Alvalade turns tense — Portugal have the squad depth and tactical flexibility to respond. Trincao and Ramos off the bench, both scoring within 35 minutes of entering, is the kind of substitution depth that separates quarter-final exits from semi-final places.

Related reading: Programmation de Coupe d’Afrique des Nations de Football 2025 – Dates, Groups and Full Schedule

Additional sources

givemesport.com, sportingnews.com, youtube.com, skysports.com

Portugal trails 1-0 from the first leg after Rasmus Højlund’s goal, with the second-leg preview offering key lineup insights ahead of Lisbon.

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Frequently asked questions

Who scored for Portugal vs. Denmark?

In the second leg on March 23, 2025, Portugal’s goals came from Joao Andersen’s own goal (38th minute), Cristiano Ronaldo (72nd minute), Francisco Trincao (86th and 91st minute), and Goncalo Ramos (115th minute). Denmark’s goal came from Rasmus Kristensen (56th minute).

Where to watch Denmark national football team vs Portugal national football team?

Both legs were available through Sky Sports (UK), UEFA’s official streaming platform, and major sports broadcasters in each country. Check local listings for replays and highlights.

Who missed the penalty in Portugal?

Cristiano Ronaldo missed a penalty in the 6th minute of the second leg on March 23, 2025. The shot went over the bar. He later scored in the 72nd minute to give Portugal the lead.

Did Ronaldo miss a penalty?

Yes, Ronaldo missed a penalty in the 6th minute of the second leg against Denmark. He subsequently scored in the 72nd minute.

Has CR7 ever won the Nations League?

Yes, Portugal won the inaugural Nations League in 2019, defeating the Netherlands 1-0 in the final in Porto. Ronaldo was part of that squad.

Has Ronaldo scored 75% of Portugal’s goals?

Analyses of Portugal’s international goal distribution show Ronaldo has accounted for a very high percentage of Portugal’s goals in competitive matches. The approximate figure of 75% has been cited in various statistical analyses of his international career.

Can CR7 play the 2026 World Cup?

At the time of the March 2025 Nations League matches, Ronaldo was 40 years old. Whether he plays in the 2026 World Cup depends on his form, fitness, and selection decisions by manager Roberto Martinez.

What was the first leg score?

Denmark won the first leg 1-0 on March 20, 2025, at Telia Parken in Copenhagen. Rasmus Hojlund scored the winner in the 78th minute after coming on as a substitute.