In a historic moment for both player and nation, Cristiano Ronaldo scored the decisive goal in Portugal’s 2-1 victory over Germany in the UEFA Nations League semi-final on Wednesday, securing their place in the final and finally breaking his five-match losing streak against the Germans.
Ronaldo, who had already been subject to German boos and Portuguese cheers every time he touched the ball, netted a tap-in in the 68th minute, extending his international record to 137 goals in 219 appearances. This win marked his first-ever victory over Germany after five defeats, the longest winless streak he has endured against any national team.
Germany’s Early Lead and Ronaldo’s Redemption
The game, played in Munich’s Allianz Arena, began with a delay due to a fierce storm that left hailstones scattered across the pitch. Despite the challenging conditions, the action quickly unfolded in the second half when Germany’s Florian Wirtz capitalised on a moment of individual brilliance. Wirtz weaved through Portugal’s midfield and found the back of the net just three minutes after the interval, giving Germany the lead.
But Portugal was quick to respond. Francisco Conceição equalised in the 60th minute, running a remarkable 35 metres to score a stunning solo effort. This set the stage for Ronaldo to step up and make his mark.
Having earlier squandered two chances, Ronaldo made no mistake when he latched onto a precise pass from Nuno Mendes. The 37-year-old striker made no mistake from close range, securing Portugal’s crucial second goal and a spot in Sunday’s final.
A Tactical Battle and Key Substitutions
Both teams made key tactical adjustments throughout the game. Portugal’s manager Roberto Martinez’s substitutions proved pivotal. Conceição’s entry revitalised Portugal’s attacking play, as he scored his brilliant solo goal just minutes after coming on. Ronaldo’s goal followed soon after, reaffirming his status as one of the sport’s most prolific international goal scorers.
Germany, under Julian Nagelsmann, had been in strong form leading into this match, having lost just one of their previous 17 games. However, despite a late effort from Munich-born Karim Adeyemi, who rattled the crossbar with just minutes remaining, Germany failed to find an equaliser. As a result, they will face a third-place playoff against the loser of Spain versus France, also to be held in Stuttgart on Sunday.
Portugal’s Impressive Resilience
The match also marked a moment of resilience for Portugal, who had four players coming off the back of a Champions League final win just days earlier. Despite this, they showed greater composure and tactical flexibility throughout the match, particularly in the second half.
Portugal, winners of the inaugural Nations League in 2019, will now look to repeat their success when they face either European champions Spain or World Cup winners France in the final. This victory, not only a personal triumph for Ronaldo but also a crucial one for Portugal’s footballing legacy, keeps them on course to defend their Nations League title.