Ronaldo Ends Germany Curse as Portugal Reach Nations League Final

Cristiano Ronaldo fired Portugal into the UEFA Nations League final with a 2-1 win over Germany in Munich, ending a personal five-game losing streak against the hosts.

The 40-year-old scored the winner in the 68th minute — his record-extending 137th international goal — capping off a dramatic second half after goals from Florian Wirtz and Francisco Conceição.

Germany took the lead just after halftime when Wirtz headed in after a brilliant one-two with Joshua Kimmich. But Portugal responded through Conceição, who burst from midfield and curled home a spectacular solo goal — echoing his father Sérgio Conceição’s famous hat-trick against Germany at Euro 2000.

Then came Ronaldo’s moment. Having missed two earlier chances, the Portuguese icon made no mistake from close range after a pinpoint cutback by Nuno Mendes.

“It’s never easy – I don’t know how old he is, I think he’s like 40 – to still be hungry every day,” said teammate Bernardo Silva. “We’re very happy to have him with us.”

Portugal will now face either France or Spain in Sunday’s final, again in Munich.

The defeat ends a 17-game stretch with just one loss for Julian Nagelsmann’s Germany.
“It was a deserved defeat,” said the German coach. “We gave the game away in the first half.”

The match was delayed 10 minutes by a hailstorm, and Germany failed to find early rhythm. Despite strong support, Ronaldo was denied by Marc-André ter Stegen early on, and Germany’s best first-half chance fell to debutant Nick Woltemade, whose shot was saved by Diogo Costa.

Germany struck after the break, but Portugal’s response was emphatic. Roberto Martinez’s substitutions changed the game — Conceição equalized in the 65th minute, and Ronaldo’s winner followed just three minutes later.

Germany nearly equalized late through Karim Adeyemi, who hit the bar, but Portugal held firm to reach their second Nations League final, five years after lifting the inaugural trophy.