Cristiano Ronaldo scored a historic goal to lead Portugal to a thrilling win over Germany, sending his team to the Nations League final. With this magical moment, Ronaldo proved once again why he’s one of football’s greatest legends.
Portugal Beats Germany 2-1 in Exciting Semi-Final
Portugal made history by defeating Germany 2-1 in the UEFA Nations League semi-final. The thrilling win means Portugal will now play in the final against either Spain or France on Sunday. Cristiano Ronaldo was the hero of the night, scoring the winning goal and leading his team to a famous victory.
Ronaldo Breaks the Curse Against Germany
Cristiano Ronaldo, at 40 years old, played one of the most important games of his long career. Before this match, Ronaldo had never won against Germany in five attempts. But that changed on Wednesday night. With this goal, he became the oldest player ever to score against Germany. It was also his 137th goal for Portugal more than any other international player in history.
Portugal had not beaten Germany since the year 2000. That match was memorable because Sergio Conceicao scored a hat-trick. On this special night in 2025, his son Francisco Conceicao scored Portugal’s first goal. It was a beautiful connection between generations.
Germany Starts Strong but Portugal Fights Back
Germany looked better in the first half. They created many chances, and Portuguese goalkeeper Diogo Costa had to make some big saves. One of his best was a stop from Leon Goretzka’s shot, which helped keep Portugal in the game.
Germany finally broke the deadlock in the 48th minute. Florian Wirtz scored with a calm header from a perfect pass by Joshua Kimmich. That goal gave Germany a 1-0 lead and put pressure on Portugal.
But Portugal didn’t give up. In the 63rd minute, Francisco Conceicao came on as a substitute and quickly made an impact by scoring the equaliser. Just five minutes later, Cristiano Ronaldo scored the winning goal with his powerful shot. The crowd erupted in joy, and Ronaldo celebrated with passion, knowing how much this win meant.
A Team Effort with Ronaldo as the Leader
While Ronaldo took the spotlight, the whole team played well. Midfielder Vitinha, fresh from winning the Champions League with Paris Saint-Germain, controlled the midfield. His passes and movements helped Portugal stay strong in attack.
Germany kept fighting, and Karim Adeyemi nearly scored the equaliser, but his shot hit the post. German goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen also played well, making several saves to keep his team in the game.
Portugal’s coach Roberto Martinez praised his team, saying, “We were tactically smart and showed great teamwork. This win is for the whole team and the fans. It’s special because we beat Germany after many years.”
Looking Ahead to the Final
Portugal will now face the winner of the Spain vs. France semi-final, which will take place on Thursday in Stuttgart. The final is on Sunday. Portugal has a chance to win their second Nations League title—they won the first edition in 2019.
For Ronaldo, this win was more than just a goal. It was about ending a long wait to beat Germany and helping his country reach another final. Portugal fans will now hope for one more magic moment from their captain in the title match.