Cristiano Ronaldo reacts to win over Denmark with 3-word message as Portugal reach Nations League semifinals

Portugal and Denmark faced off on Sunday afternoon in a decisive UEFA Nations League quarterfinal matchup, with Portugal securing an emphatic 5-2 victory (5-3 on aggregate) to book their spot in the semifinals. Cristiano Ronaldo played a key role in the match, despite missing a penalty, as he later found the back of the net. Following the victory, Ronaldo reacted to the result.

Taking to his official X account (formerly Twitter), Ronaldo expressed his excitement in just three words: “Que Noite, Portugal!”—a clear reflection of his joy after the team’s hard-fought qualification for the Nations League semifinals.

The Portuguese side had to overcome a deficit after Denmark claimed a 1-0 victory in the first leg, thanks to a goal from Rasmus Hojlund—who made headlines with his controversial celebration mimicking Ronaldo. However, no bad blood emerged from the incident.

Looking ahead, Portugal will now face a formidable Germany squad in the semifinals. The Germans are coming off an intense 5-4 aggregate win over Italy, powered by a standout performance from Jamal Musiala and the leadership of Joshua Kimmich. Meanwhile, the other semifinal clash will feature France vs. Spain, setting the stage for an electrifying final four.

Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal

Match recap

The second leg, played at Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon, Portugal, got off to a dramatic start. Ronaldo had the opportunity to open the scoring but failed to convert a penalty. However, Portugal still struck first after a defensive miscue by Denmark resulted in a Joachim Andersen own goal—caused by the confusion of dealing with Ronaldo’s presence in the box.

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The second half saw a surge of intensity. Denmark equalized in the 55th minute through Rasmus Kristensen, momentarily putting Portugal on the brink of elimination with a 2-1 aggregate scoreline. However, at the 72nd minute, Ronaldo responded with a crucial goal, reigniting Portugal’s hopes.

Denmark didn’t back down, and shortly after, Christian Eriksen restored their aggregate lead (3-2) with a well-placed finish following a high-press recovery from Denmark’s attack. But just when Denmark seemed poised to advance, Portugal found salvation through Francisco Trincão, who unleashed a brilliant strike after a precise assist from Nuno Mendes to send the match to extra time.

Extra time heroics

Portugal wasted no time in extra time, as Trincão struck again in the first minute, firmly establishing himself as the hero of the match. Despite Denmark’s efforts, they couldn’t mount another soccer comeback. Gonçalo Ramos sealed the victory with a decisive goal, ensuring Portugal’s place in the Nations League semifinals.