Cristiano Ronaldo struck the decisive blow in Portugal’s 2-1 triumph over Germany on Wednesday in Munich, propelling his nation into the UEFA Nations League final and finally snapping his long-standing losing streak against the Germans.
The 68th-minute goal—a simple tap-in—was Ronaldo’s 137th for Portugal, extending his record as the top international goal scorer. More importantly, it marked his first-ever victory over Germany after suffering five straight defeats—the most he had endured against any single national side without a win.
Germany had drawn first blood early in the second half following a cagey and disrupted opening 45 minutes. Just three minutes after the break, Florian Wirtz sparked into life, orchestrating a brilliant move through the heart of the pitch. He cleverly exchanged passes and ghosted into the box, eventually meeting a chip from Joshua Kimmich with a precise header into the bottom right corner.
But Portugal answered in stunning fashion. Francisco Conceicao, who entered from the bench on the hour mark, made an immediate impact. After picking up the ball 35 metres from goal, he slalomed past Robin Gosens with a slick turn and powered forward before bending a sublime shot into the net, leaving Marc-Andre ter Stegen with no chance.
The momentum had swung, and with just over 20 minutes remaining, the stage was set for Portugal’s talisman. After two missed opportunities earlier in the game, Ronaldo made no mistake this time—meeting a precise pass from Nuno Mendes and turning it into the net with ruthless calmness from close range.
The result sends Portugal—champions of the inaugural Nations League in 2019—into Sunday’s final, where they will meet either France or reigning European champions Spain, again in Munich.
Germany, who had lost just one of their previous 17 matches, found themselves undone in front of their home crowd. The match had a delayed kickoff due to a violent hailstorm that left the pitch littered with ice, disrupting the early rhythm of play. Portugal’s high press unsettled Germany’s backline, particularly Jonathan Tah, while Aleksandar Pavlovic struggled with misplaced passes in midfield.
Despite Portugal fielding four players fresh from Saturday’s Champions League final—and the celebrations that followed—it was the hosts who appeared disjointed for much of the contest.
Ronaldo nearly opened the scoring within six minutes, but ter Stegen, returning to Germany’s starting eleven for the first time since September 2024, denied him.
On the opposite end, German debutant Nick Woltemade came close with a low shot in the 18th minute, only for Diogo Costa to produce a solid save.
Ronaldo was agonizingly close again shortly after the break, missing a golden opportunity when he failed to connect cleanly with another sharp cross from Mendes. Germany responded ruthlessly, but their joy was short-lived.
Portugal coach Roberto Martinez’s substitutions turned the game. Conceicao’s solo effort reinvigorated the visitors, and Ronaldo’s eventual winner completed a dramatic turnaround.
Munich-born forward Karim Adeyemi nearly salvaged a draw for Germany, rattling the crossbar with eight minutes to go. But Portugal held firm, sealing a historic win and denying Germany a shot at the final.
Instead, Julian Nagelsmann’s side will now prepare for the third-place match, set to take place in Stuttgart.
What you should know
Cristiano Ronaldo ended a five-match losing streak against Germany by scoring his 137th international goal, helping Portugal reach the Nations League final.
The match also saw standout performances from Francisco Conceicao and Florian Wirtz, while Germany’s hopes were dashed despite a strong start to the second half.
