Ronaldo Ends Curse, Fires Portugal into Final
Cristiano Ronaldo ended a two-decade-long personal drought against Germany on Wednesday night, scoring the winning goal that sent Portugal into the UEFA Nations League final with a 2-1 comeback victory in Munich.
In a thrilling semi-final encounter, Germany took the lead early in the second half through Florian Wirtz, who nodded in a precise cross from Joshua Kimmich.
But Portugal roared back with renewed urgency, first leveling through Francisco Conceição before Ronaldo delivered the killer blow, a close-range finish from Nuno Mendes’ cross that proved decisive.
The victory not only secured Portugal’s place in the final but also marked the national team’s first win over Germany in 25 years.
More personally, it was a historic milestone for Ronaldo, who had never previously beaten Germany in his storied international career, which began in 2003.
“It’s a special night. We fought hard, believed until the end, and now we’re one step away from making history again,” Ronaldo told reporters post-match.
The match wasn’t without its drama. A sudden hailstorm in Munich forced a ten-minute delay shortly after kickoff, and a pitch invader disrupted the pre-match routine by rushing to take a selfie with Ronaldo.
Security intervened swiftly, and play resumed without further incident.
Portugal’s resilience shone through as head coach Roberto Martínez’s substitutions changed the tide. Conceição, brought on to inject energy into the attack, fired home a stunning long-range equalizer that reignited Portuguese hopes.
From that moment, momentum shifted. Germany, who had controlled much of the midfield battle early on, struggled to regain their composure, and Portugal pressed with increasing confidence. Ronaldo’s goal a well-timed run and composed finish sent the Portuguese fans into raptures and sealed a famous win.
This victory sends Portugal into the Nations League final, where they will face the winner of the other semi-final clash between Spain and France.
It also places the Seleção within touching distance of a second Nations League title, having won the inaugural edition in 2019.
As the final whistle blew, Ronaldo dropped to his knees, fists clenched and eyes closed a moment of personal redemption and national pride.
For a man who has conquered Europe and the world, this win against Germany a long thorn in his side was a fitting new chapter in an already legendary career.
Portugal march on. One more step remains.
