Cristiano Ronaldo delivered a masterclass once again, scoring a record-breaking 137th international goal to fire Portugal past Germany 2-1 and into the UEFA Nations League final.
The 40-year-old legend also set a new tournament record with seven goals, proving he’s still the driving force behind Portugal’s pursuit of glory.
Cristiano Ronaldo continues to redefine greatness, this time propelling Portugal into the UEFA Nations League final with a decisive goal that etched his name into yet another page of football history.
In a pulsating semi-final clash on Wednesday night, Portugal edged past Germany 2-1 thanks to a late winner from the 40-year-old legend. The goal not only sealed victory over the hosts but also marked Ronaldo’s 137th international goal, further extending his all-time world record. It was also his seventh goal of this Nations League campaign, breaking the previous single-tournament record jointly held by Romelu Lukaku and Ferran Torres, who had each scored six in the 2021/22 edition.
Germany Strikes First, But Portugal Responds
The match kicked off with intense energy, but it was Germany who opened the scoring just minutes into the second half. Florian Wirtz rose high to meet a pinpoint cross from Joshua Kimmich, heading past Portugal’s defense to make it 1–0 and send the home crowd into a frenzy.
Portugal’s coach, Roberto Martinez, immediately rang the changes, introducing fresh legs that would go on to tilt the game in their favor. One of those substitutes, Francisco Conceição, made an instant impact. Cutting through Germany’s backline with finesse, he curled a sensational equalizer into the bottom corner, leaving goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen rooted.
Ronaldo Delivers When It Matters Most
With the match finely balanced, it was the evergreen Cristiano Ronaldo who once again stepped up under pressure. In the 75th minute, the Al-Nassr forward timed his run to perfection, connecting with a low cross from Nuno Mendes to slot home the winner.
It was a vintage Ronaldo moment: instinctive, clinical, and historic.
Not only did the goal give Portugal the lead, but it also reinforced Ronaldo’s status as the most prolific scorer in international football. His seven goals in this tournament now stand as the highest ever scored by a player in a single Nations League season.
Portugal Eyes Second Nations League Title
This hard-fought victory secures Portugal’s place in Sunday’s final, where they’ll aim to lift the Nations League trophy for the second time since their 2019 triumph.
For Ronaldo, who shows no signs of slowing down at 40, this tournament could be yet another crowning achievement in a career already filled with accolades. His leadership, form, and hunger have proven once again to be the heartbeat of Portugal’s success.
With Ronaldo firing on all cylinders and a hungry Portuguese squad behind him, fans are already dreaming of more glory in the days to come.
