Ronaldo stayed on the bench and Haaland scored his 65th, and Nyland’s pass gave Portugal a 2-1 win in Oslo
João Félix and Gonçalo Ramos scored as Portugal beat Norway in the Nations League, with Diogo Costa keeping Erling Haaland to one goal.
Sep 28, 2026
The meeting everyone wanted never happened. Cristiano Ronaldo sat on the Portugal bench for all 90 minutes in Oslo on Sunday, so he and Erling Haaland have still not shared a pitch. Haaland scored anyway. It did not matter, because Portugal won 2-1 and Norway’s goalkeeper gave them the winner.
João Félix put Portugal ahead in the 17th minute, controlling Pedro Neto’s cross and finishing low into the corner from the edge of the box. Haaland equalised six minutes after the restart. Three minutes later Ørjan Nyland tried a routine pass out from the back, played it straight to Gonçalo Ramos, and the striker chipped the stranded keeper.
Haaland’s record keeps growing
The equaliser came from Patrick Berg’s cross, which Haaland turned in from close range. It was his 65th goal for Norway in 57 appearances, and his 22nd in the Nations League, which extends his record in the competition. Ronaldo and Aleksandar Mitrović have 15 each.
Norway pushed hard for a second equaliser. Costa saved from Haaland at close range, Rúben Dias blocked another effort, Costa reacted to deny Ødegaard from point-blank range in the 78th minute, and six minutes later he tipped a Haaland volley over the bar one-handed. Portugal’s keeper was the reason they left with three points.
Why Ronaldo did not play
New Portugal coach Jorge Jesus had explained before kick-off that Ronaldo, 41, played nearly 70 minutes against Wales on Thursday and would not start two games in a row. The plan was to bring him on for the last half hour. Ramos changed that.
“I had actually agreed with him that he would play the final half-hour, ‘I’m going to put you on’, but the game wasn’t calling for it,” Jesus said afterwards.
It has been a quiet week for Ronaldo. Against Wales in Lisbon he had seven attempts, missed the target with five, and had a goal ruled out by VAR. Félix scored the only goal that night too, and he now has the winner in both of Portugal’s games.
Denmark next, then Norway again
Portugal lead Group A4 with six points from two games. Norway and Denmark have three each, and Wales have none. Jesus has hinted Ronaldo could return against Denmark on October 1. Then Portugal host Norway on Sunday, October 4, which is the next chance to see him and Haaland on the same field. Norway’s problem in Oslo was not who Portugal picked up front. It was Costa.