In Portugal, no one is waiting anymore for Ronaldo to return to the starting lineup. The national team, without its legendary captain, is confidently marching toward the Nations League quarterfinals, and the latest victory over Norway 2:1 only confirmed it: the era of a single star is over.
The match at the Dragão began with a surprise. The Norwegians took the lead in the middle of the first half — Kristoffer Ajer found the far corner after a set piece. But just two minutes later, João Cancelo responded with an equally spectacular strike from outside the box. The Portuguese seized the initiative and never let it go until the end.
Gonçalo Ramos, who was given a place in the starting lineup instead of Ronaldo, became the hero of the evening. In the 79th minute, he finished off a pass from João Félix and brought the team victory. This is already Ramos's third goal in four matches under the guidance of Jorge Jesus. Portugal maintained a perfect record in the group and became the first to guarantee a place in the knockout stage.
Ronaldo's departure from the national team camp after a conflict with the coach could have been a blow. Instead, the team showed that it is capable of playing without him. Jesus bet on collective play, and the result speaks for itself: four wins in four matches, and without a single defeat.
Norway, with Erling Haaland in the lineup, never found an answer. The Scandinavians led in the score but could not hold on to their advantage. The Portuguese, even after being reduced to ten men following Francisco Conceição's sending-off, saw the job through to victory.
This victory is not just the result of a match. It shows that Portuguese football has entered a new phase, where success depends not on one player, but on squad depth and tactical discipline. The next challenge is the quarterfinals in 2027, where the team will already be playing without looking back at the past.
