Portugal's first match without Ronaldo ends in record 4-1 home defeat to Denmark

Portugal's first outing since Cristiano Ronaldo announced his international retirement turned into a night to forget, as Denmark claimed an emphatic 4-1 victory in the UEFA Nations League on Saturday, handing the hosts their heaviest ever home defeat in a competitive match.

The team paid tribute to Ronaldo before and during the game in Braga, with every Portugal player wearing his No. 7 jersey before kickoff. But instead of the celebration the home crowd had anticipated, with the previously unbeaten side already qualified for the quarterfinals, the evening produced a lackluster display that drew whistles from disappointed supporters.

Denmark captain Pierre-Emile Højbjerg opened the scoring before halftime, converting a penalty with conviction after Rúben Dias was penalized for handball.

Rasmus Højlund doubled the lead in the 50th minute, finishing off a fine team move with a volley. Seven minutes later he struck again, eluding Dias on the edge of the area before hammering the ball past goalkeeper Diogo Costa to make it 3-0.

The frustration in the stands grew as Portugal needlessly conceded a corner, and things did not improve from there. Joachim Andersen added a fourth goal in the 75th minute with a header, completing the rout.

Bernardo Silva pulled one back in stoppage time, a consolation that only meant the Group A4 contest concluded with a VAR check rather than offering any real comfort to the hosts.

Before Saturday, Portugal had lost by multiple goals at home in a competitive fixture only four times, the most recent of those coming in a World Cup qualifier against Italy in 1993.

Ronaldo, the country's all-time leading scorer and appearance maker with 146 goals in 234 matches, retired last week after a falling out with coach Jorge Jesus. His final appearance came on Sept. 24 in a 1-0 home win over Wales in the Nations League.

Jesus kept the 41-year-old on the bench for the following match and said he did not plan to start him in the next one, prompting the superstar forward to leave the team's training camp. Jesus later said Ronaldo would be welcome back and that the decision on a return was up to him.