Munich, June 5, 2025: Cristiano Ronaldo continues to defy age and rewrite football history. On Wednesday night, the 40-year-old scored his 137th international goal as Portugal defeated Germany 2-1 in Munich to reach the UEFA Nations League final.
It was Portugal’s first competitive win over Germany since Euro 2000, and Ronaldo’s tap-in — off a low cross from Nuno Mendes in the 68th minute — proved the match-winner in a dramatic comeback at the Allianz Arena.
The turnaround began just five minutes earlier when Francisco Conceição equalised, curling in a brilliant strike after cutting inside from the right. Remarkably, the goal came exactly 25 years after his father, Sérgio Conceição, netted a hat-trick against Germany in that same Euro 2000 fixture.
Portugal now advances to face the winner of France vs Spain, who clash Thursday in Stuttgart. The final will be held Sunday, June 8, in Munich.
The match began cautiously, with both sides probing but failing to break through in the first half. That changed soon after the restart, when Florian Wirtz headed home a pinpoint pass from Joshua Kimmich, who was celebrating his 100th international cap.
Wirtz, widely reported to be on the verge of a $139 million move to Liverpool, gave Germany hope with a well-taken opener in the 48th minute.
But Portugal, under Roberto Martínez, responded with renewed urgency. Substitutions made the difference: Conceição equalised within five minutes of coming on, and soon after, Mendes’ low delivery found Ronaldo unmarked in the six-yard box for the winner.
Germany appealed for a foul in the build-up to Conceição’s goal — claiming obstruction by Nick Woltemade on Rúben Dias — but referee Slavko Vinčić upheld the goal after a VAR check.
Germany pressed late for an equaliser, with Karim Adeyemi coming closest as he struck the post. But Portugal stood firm to secure their place in the final — their second after lifting the inaugural Nations League trophy in 2019.
Wednesday’s clash marked the second major fixture at Munich’s Allianz Arena in less than a week, following PSG’s UEFA Champions League triumph on Saturday.
Now, all eyes turn to the much-anticipated final, where Cristiano Ronaldo, even at 40, looks determined to chase one more title.
