100 days after Ronaldo crushed Uzbekistan, Portugal may leave him in dust
Just 100 days ago, Cristiano Ronaldo proclaimed, «I’m back,» as he stared into a television camera after scoring twice against Uzbekistan at the 2026 World Cup. Portugal appeared to be fully capable of advancing on Thursday, scoring four goals in Denmark without him.
You wouldn’t believe how sharp the contrast is. Ronaldo scored twice in Portugal’s 5-0 thrashing of Uzbekistan on 23 June in Houston, making him the first player in World Cup history to score in six tournaments.
The 41-year-old had already departed the national team camp on 1 October, reportedly due to a disagreement about his position under Jorge Jesus‘s coaching.
Portugal gave an emphatic response, having defeated Denmark 4-2 in the Nations League match, with goals from Vitinha, João Félix, Gonçalo Ramos (who replaced Ronaldo), and João Cancelo. Ramos also set up the opening goal. In contrast to Denmark’s 12 shots and 0.67 xG, Portugal managed 19 shots and 2.74 expected goals.
Read more: Ronaldo hits brace as Portugal storm to 3-0 lead over Uzbekistan
What Uzbekistan feels about Ronaldo
In theory, Ronaldo’s performance against Uzbekistan was exceptional. After going scoreless in ten consecutive matches at major international tournaments, he broke Eusébio’s record for goals scored by a Portuguese player at the World Cup, scoring two goals.
But even then, critics questioned how much the performance really proved.
The Guardian described Uzbekistan as an ill-equipped opponent to deal with Portugal and asked whether Ronaldo’s renaissance against such opposition revealed anything about his ability to decide harder matches.
Portuguese football agent Paulo Barbosa made a similar argument after the game, saying the brace had not erased doubts because Ronaldo had previously gone 10 games without scoring and Uzbekistan had been a weak opponent.
How it happened: Portugal score 5-0 In World Cup match against Uzbekistan
There was a different perspective from inside the Uzbekistan camp.
Fabio Cannavaro, Uzbekistan’s head coach and himself a former Ballon d’Or-winning defender, argued that Ronaldo’s finishing remained brutally difficult to contain.
«If you give him a centimetre in the box, you’re dead,» Cannavaro said after the match, adding that Portugal’s players constantly looked for Ronaldo and that his movement remained exceptional.
Uzbek football media also viewed the night with more mixed emotions. A Tashkent-based publication noted the unusual dilemma facing local supporters who had grown up idolising Ronaldo but were now watching him dismantle their own national team.
Are Portugal better off without Ronaldo?
Ultimately, the more difficult question is what Portugal sacrifices to keep him at the centre of the team.
From 2024 through the Norway match, Portugal won 17 of Ronaldo’s 29 appearances and five of eight without him. The difference in results was relatively small, and Ronaldo still contributed 18 goals over that period.
The numbers do not prove that Portugal are automatically better without him, but the Denmark match provided a more revealing clue than the win percentage.
Read more: Ronaldo in tears as Spain eliminate Portugal from 2026 World Cup
Without Ronaldo acting as the fixed destination for attacks, Portugal found goals from four different players. Ramos linked play as well as finishing it, Bruno Fernandes supplied two assists, and Portugal repeatedly arrived in dangerous positions from different directions.
That being said, Portugal no longer need their attack to revolve around Ronaldo.
