Ronaldo Breaks Germany Jinx as Portugal Advances to Nations League Final
Cristiano Ronaldo scored the decisive goal in a thrilling 2-1 victory over Germany, propelling Portugal into the Nations League final and ending his long-standing struggle against the Germans. The match, held in Munich, marked Ronaldo’s 137th international goal, extending his record while delivering his first win over Germany after five consecutive losses.
The first half saw both teams struggle to find their rhythm, with a violent storm delaying the kickoff. However, it was Germany who struck first just after halftime. Florian Wirtz made a sensational solo run, weaving through the Portuguese defense before heading in the opener three minutes into the second half.
Portugal responded with a moment of brilliance from Francisco Conceicao, who leveled the score with a stunning solo goal in the 60th minute. Conceicao’s strike served as a heartfelt tribute to his father, Sergio, who had scored a hat-trick the last time Portugal defeated Germany in 2000.
With momentum on their side, Portugal took the lead when Ronaldo tapped in a pass from Nuno Mendes in the 68th minute, making up for two earlier missed opportunities. “It’s never easy to still be hungry to win at his age,” said Portugal midfielder Bernardo Silva, praising Ronaldo’s relentless drive.
Germany, under coach Julian Nagelsmann, faced disappointment after losing just one of their previous 17 matches. “It was a deserved defeat,” Nagelsmann admitted, acknowledging his team’s defensive lapses.
Portugal, winners of the inaugural Nations League in 2019, will now face either Spain or France in the final on Sunday at the same venue.
Meanwhile, Germany will look to rebound in the third-place match in Stuttgart.
