Cristiano Ronaldo scored his record-extending 133rd international goal to keep Portugal perfect in the Nations League with a 3-1 win over Poland, and Spain struck late to edge Denmark 1-0.

The 39-year-old superstar was there to put in the rebound after Rafael Leão’s shot hit the post in the 37th minute on Saturday. That made it 2-0 following Bernardo Silva’s opener in Warsaw in the 26th.

After failing to find the net in his five appearances at this summer’s European Championship — with Portugal exiting in the quarter-finals — Ronaldo has scored in three straight Nations League matches, including in wins over Croatia — his 900th career goal — and Scotland last month.

Portugal coach Roberto Martínez replaced Ronaldo with Diogo Jota with just under half an hour to play.

Midfielder Piotr Zielinski halved the deficit in the 78th for the hosts, only for Southampton defender Jan Bednarek to score an own-goal with two minutes left.

Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski started alongside Karol Swiderski but the Polish attacking pair couldn’t find their way past the Portuguese defense.

“We worked very hard the last few days, preparing various solutions for this game, and we were able to show it on the pitch. I am really satisfied because we controlled this game,” Martínez said.

Portugal lead Group A1 with nine points from three games. Second-placed Croatia has six points after it came back to beat Scotland 2-1 in Zagreb with the visitors having an equaliser deep into second-half stoppage time ruled out by VAR. Poland has three points, and Scotland zero.

Zubimendi shines

Martín Zubimendi helped Spain crack Denmark’s defence as the holding midfielder starred in place of the injured Rodri.

The Real Sociedad player unleashed a powerful volley in the 79th to smash a rebound from outside the area past Kasper Schmeichel, who got his hand on the ball but couldn’t keep it out.

Zubimendi had impressed in the final of Euro 2024 when he replaced Rodri for the second half of Spain’s 2-1 win over England. Rodri seriously injured his right knee and required surgery on his ACL while playing for Manchester City last month.

“Martín is a treasure,” Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said. “With his goal he will get more attention, but his play, the fact that he’s got a computer in his brain, means we are privileged to have him at a time when Rodri will be out for a while.”

Spain were also missing Nico Williams and Dani Olmo, two more players who excelled at the Euros, who are sidelined with minor injuries.

Spain, the defending Nations League champion, has seven points in Group A4 after three games. Denmark have six points, and Serbia have four after beating the pointless Switzerland 2-0.

The Swiss didn’t help their cause with an own-goal by Nico Elvedi before the interval. Aleksandar Mitrovic doubled the lead for Serbia in the 61st and Serbia goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic saved a penalty taken by Breel Embolo.