Portugal secured a 2-1 victory over Norway in Oslo during the second matchday of the UEFA Nations League, a fixture highlighted by manager Jorge Jesus leaving team captain Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench for the entire 90 minutes. Goals from Joao Felix and Gonçalo Ramos carried the Seleçao das Quinas past Erling Haaland’s Norway side on September 27, marking the first time in 18 years that Ronaldo has been an unused substitute for Portugal in a competitive international match.
Jorge Jesus Leaves Ronaldo on the Bench in Oslo
The team sheets released roughly an hour before kickoff at Ullevaal Stadion brought a major surprise for supporters. Jorge Jesus opted to start Gonçalo Ramos at the point of the attack, leaving Cristiano Ronaldo among the substitutes alongside midfielder Vitinha. While the 41-year-old forward smiled and took his seat next to his teammates, he ultimately did not feature in the match at all.
The decision followed Ronaldo’s 65-minute appearance three days prior in Portugal’s 1-0 victory over Wales, with the coaching staff managing the veteran’s physical condition. Jorge Jesus had indicated before kickoff that his captain would participate in the fixture, yet the tactical shift ultimately kept the five-time Ballon d’Or winner rooted to the bench for the full duration.
Ending an 18-Year Precedent in Competitive Matches
The last time Ronaldo spent an entire competitive match as an unused substitute dates back to June 2008 during the group stage of the UEFA European Championship, in a 2-0 defeat against Switzerland.
More recently, Ronaldo began on the bench against Scotland in September 2024 before entering the pitch in the second half to score. In Oslo, however, the coaching staff chose a different path, relying entirely on depth as the squad coped with the absence of midfielder Bruno Fernandes due to injury.
How Joao Felix and Gonçalo Ramos Secured the Result
Joao Felix opened the scoring in the 17th minute, capitalizing on the momentum he carried from his goal against Wales earlier in the week. The strike gave Portugal a narrow advantage heading into the halftime interval.
Norway responded shortly after the break when Erling Haaland equalized in the 51st minute. The parity lasted only moments, however, as Gonçalo Ramos restored Portugal’s lead just three minutes later with the decisive goal in the 54th minute, sealing the 2-1 final scoreline.
Next Fixtures in the UEFA Nations League Group Stage
The Seleçao das Quinas will travel to face Denmark on Thursday, while Norway looks to regroup after Haaland’s efforts proved insufficient against the group rivals.
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