Nations League Results: Ronaldo Misses Chances as Portugal Beat Wales, Haaland Stars for Norway
The UEFA Nations League delivered a dramatic night of international football, with several major matches attracting strong attention from fans around the world.
The biggest talking point came from Portugal vs Wales, where Portugal secured a 1-0 victory but Cristiano Ronaldo surprisingly failed to find the net despite creating and missing several chances.
Elsewhere, Norway defeated Denmark 3-2 thanks to a brace from Erling Haaland, while the Netherlands and Germany played out a 1-1 draw.
Portugal 1-0 Wales: Ronaldo Misses Several Chances
Portugal opened their Nations League campaign with a 1-0 victory over Wales in Lisbon.
João Félix scored the only goal of the match in the 22nd minute, giving Portugal three important points at the start of their campaign.
However, Cristiano Ronaldo was the main focus after the final whistle.
The Portuguese captain started the match but ended the night without a goal despite having several opportunities.
Ronaldo Had Seven Shots but Couldn't Score
Ronaldo recorded seven shots during the match, including two on target.
He also missed a major opportunity in front of goal and was caught offside three times.
One of the most frustrating moments came when Ronaldo found the net after getting through on goal, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside following a VAR review.
Another major opportunity came when Ronaldo failed to convert a dangerous chance in front of an almost open goal.
His difficult night eventually ended in the 67th minute when Portugal manager Jorge Jesus replaced him with Gonçalo Ramos.
Despite Ronaldo's struggles in front of goal, Portugal held on to secure the win.
Ronaldo's 980th Career Goal Has to Wait
Ronaldo entered the match looking for his 980th career goal.
However, his failure to score against Wales means the milestone will have to wait for another game.
The Portuguese superstar remains one of the most prolific goalscorers in football history, and his pursuit of another career milestone continues to attract huge global attention.
For Portugal, however, the most important thing was securing three points.
Norway 3-2 Denmark: Haaland Scores Twice
Norway produced another entertaining performance, defeating Denmark 3-2 in a thrilling encounter.
Oscar Bobb opened the scoring for Norway in the 14th minute before Erling Haaland doubled the lead just four minutes later.
Denmark fought back and managed to level the score, setting up a tense finish.
Haaland then struck again in the 73rd minute to give Norway the decisive goal and complete his brace.
The Manchester City striker once again demonstrated his importance to the Norwegian national team.
Netherlands 1-1 Germany
The Netherlands and Germany shared the points after a 1-1 draw.
Germany took the lead through Felix Nmecha before Cody Gakpo equalized for the Netherlands in stoppage time.
The match also attracted attention because it marked the beginning of a new era for both national teams, with Jürgen Klopp making his competitive debut as Germany's manager and Xabi Alonso beginning his tenure with the Netherlands.
The late equalizer denied Germany what looked like a valuable opening victory.
Turkey vs France: One of the Night's Biggest Matches
Another major fixture attracting significant attention is Turkey vs France.
The match is being played in Kocaeli on September 25, 2026, as both teams begin their Nations League campaign.
The fixture is particularly notable because Zinedine Zidane begins his competitive era as France manager.
Turkey will also be looking to make a strong start in front of its home supporters against one of Europe's strongest national teams.
The match has generated significant search interest in Turkey, making it one of the most closely followed football fixtures of the day.
Ronaldo, Haaland and the Biggest Nations League Stories
The opening matches of the Nations League have already produced several major storylines.
Ronaldo's missed chances against Wales, Haaland's two-goal performance for Norway and the late Netherlands equalizer against Germany have all generated major interest.
With Turkey facing France, the next major chapter of the opening round is set to attract even more attention.
For Ronaldo, the focus now turns to his next opportunity to score the 980th goal of his career.