Cristiano Ronaldo proved once again that age is just a number, netting his 137th international goal to fire Portugal into the UEFA Nations League final.
The 40-year-old sealed a dramatic 2-1 comeback win over Germany in Munich, where his clinical strike completed a memorable turnaround.
Although the Germans struck first and appeared in control, Portugal showed tremendous resolve to flip the script. Florian Wirtz opened the scoring early in the second half, finishing off Joshua Kimmich’s delightful lobbed assist with a well-timed header.
The goal, however, sparked controversy as Portugal argued that Ruben Dias was blocked by debutant Nick Woltemade in the build-up.
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Despite furious protests and a VAR review, referee Slavko Vincic allowed the goal to stand. Germany continued to press, and with Kimmich celebrating his 100th cap, the hosts looked determined to reach the final. But momentum quickly shifted after Roberto Martinez introduced Francisco Conceicao.
Just five minutes after coming on, Conceicao brought the visitors level in stunning fashion. He picked up the ball near the right flank, drove at the defence, and curled a beautiful finish beyond Marc-André ter Stegen. His impact not only re-energised Portugal, but also silenced the Munich crowd.
Soon after, Portugal struck again—and this time it was the legend himself. Nuno Mendes broke down the left and squared the ball for an unmarked Ronaldo, who tapped home the winner from close range in the 68th minute. That goal marked his latest defining contribution in national colours.
Although Germany nearly forced extra time when Karim Adeyemi struck the post late on, Portugal held firm to secure their first competitive win over the Germans since Euro 2000. Remarkably, that match also featured a Conceicao—Francisco’s father Sergio, who scored a memorable hat-trick in a 3-0 victory.
With this result, Portugal now await the winner of the second semi-final between France and Spain. The final will take place in Munich on Sunday, bringing the fourth edition of the Nations League to a thrilling conclusion.
Earlier, Germany had enjoyed a strong first half. Diogo Costa was kept busy, pulling off solid saves to deny both Leon Goretzka and Nick Woltemade. In contrast, Portugal barely threatened, registering only a weak Ronaldo effort on target before the break.
But as hailstorms delayed kickoff and intensity ramped up, the match eventually swung Portugal’s way. The storm on the pitch matched the weather outside, and by full-time, Martinez’s men had weathered the German assault and emerged victorious.
Having already won the inaugural Nations League in 2019, Portugal now have a golden chance to reclaim the title. With Ronaldo still delivering magic and new stars like Conceicao emerging, belief is growing in the Portuguese camp once again.
Tags: UEFA Nations League, #UNL, Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal, Germany, Munich, Florian Wirtz, Francisco Conceicao, Nuno Mendes, Marc-André ter Stegen, Leon Goretzka, Karim Adeyemi, Nick Woltemade, Diogo Costa.
