Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo etched his name further into the history books on Wednesday, leading his nation to a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over Germany in the UEFA Nations League semi-final. His decisive goal, a record-extending 137th in international football, not only secured Portugal’s place in Sunday’s final but also set a new benchmark for goals in a single Nations League A campaign.
The match at the Allianz Arena saw Germany initially take the lead three minutes into the second half through a brilliant header from Florian Wirtz, following a precise pass from Joshua Kimmich. However, a strategic triple substitution by Portugal manager Roberto Martinez completely turned the tide of the game.
The equalizer came from substitute Francisco Conceição, who broke through the German defense to unleash a sublime curling effort past Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, leveling the score. Just five minutes later, the stage was set for the legendary Ronaldo. Nuno Mendes delivered a perfectly weighted low cross, which Ronaldo coolly tapped home, sealing the victory and sending Portugal into the final.
This pivotal goal marked Ronaldo’s seventh strike in the current Nations League A campaign, surpassing the previous record of six goals jointly held by Romelu Lukaku and Ferran Torres from the 2021/2022 season. The 40-year-old’s continued prowess and ability to perform on the biggest stages remain undeniable.
Portugal will now prepare to face the winner of the other semi-final in Sunday’s UEFA Nations League final.
