Portugal vs. Denmark penalty controversy: Manchester United talent alleges Cristiano Ronaldo dived in UEFA Nations League clash – ‘It bothers me’
In a heated UEFA Nations League quarter-final second-leg encounter between Denmark and Portugal, a young Manchester United talent found himself at the center of a controversial moment involving Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Portuguese superstar, known for his intelligence and experience, won an early penalty under contentious circumstances. However, the dramatic moment took an unexpected twist when Ronaldo failed to convert from the spot, sending a weak effort into the hands of Kasper Schmeichel.
The incident sparked debate, with the Manchester United prospect voicing his frustration over what he believed to be an unfair decision. He suggested that CR7 had manipulated the officials into awarding the penalty, despite what he perceived to be minimal contact.
Ronaldo gets called out for his ‘theatrics’
The young defender in question was none other than Patrick Dorgu, a 20-year-old left-back who joined Manchester United from Serie A side Lecce. Dorgu, who put in an impressive performance on the night, was left unimpressed by the decision to penalize him for an alleged foul on Ronaldo. Speaking after the game to Danish outlet TV2, he did not hold back in his assessment of the situation. “Cristiano Ronaldo is clever. He knows how to win a penalty.”
The defender went on to explain that he believed the contact between him and the Portuguese veteran was minimal and that other incidents in the match involved much more physicality without drawing similar decisions from the referee.
“I don’t think I grabbed him too hard, and there were definitely other situations in the game with more contact. I simply put my hand on his arm, and he went down easily. It was a smart move from him,” he added.
Dorgu, despite his frustration, showed maturity in his response to the controversy. He admitted that while the incident bothered him, he was determined not to let it affect his overall performance. “Sure, it bothers me a little, but we played for 90 minutes, and I think I responded well. I won’t let a penalty affect me so early in the game—I just have to be more careful and learn from it.”
Ronaldo missed the penalty which he won himself.
— CristianoXtra (@CristianoXtra_) March 23, 2025
Its not like missing the penalty won by others.
pic.twitter.com/f29LQvErUm
Thrilling encounter with dramatic turn
Denmark entered the second leg with a narrow 1-0 advantage from the first match in Copenhagen, thanks to a goal from another United player, Rasmus Højlund. However, Portugal, playing in front of a passionate home crowd at Estadio Jose Alvalade, came out firing and eventually secured a 5-2 victory after extra time, winning 5-3 on aggregate to book their place in the Nations League semi-finals.
Despite the controversial penalty decision, Schmeichel’s save ensured that Denmark remained in the fight, and at one stage in the match, the Danes held the lead on aggregate after Dorgu provided a brilliant assist for Christian Eriksen. But Portugal, led by Bruno Fernandes, found a way to bounce back, with Ronaldo scoring later in the match to help secure their spot in the next round.