Portugal ended a 25-year hoodoo against Germany in stunning fashion on Wednesday night, clinching a dramatic 2-1 victory in the UEFA Nations League semifinal in Munich their first win on German soil since 1985. At the center of the triumph was the ageless Cristiano Ronaldo, whose 137th international goal proved decisive in rewriting both personal and national history.
Now 40 years old, Ronaldo continues to defy time and convention. His goal in his record-extending 220th appearance for Portugal not only made him the oldest player ever to score against Germany but also propelled his nation into the final of the continent’s elite competition.
History Reversed in Munich
The last time Portugal tasted victory on German turf, Ronaldo was a six-month-old baby in Madeira. The 1985 win in Stuttgart had long stood as a solitary success in a series of painful encounters with the Germans, including bitter defeats in Euro 2008 and the 2014 World Cup. For Ronaldo, the win held deeper meaning, having lost all five of his previous matches against Germany.
Germany, who had controlled large spells of the game, opened the scoring through Florian Wirtz early in the second half. But the momentum shifted after Portugal’s tactical substitutions.
A New Generation Joins the Story
Francisco Conceicao son of Sergio Conceicao, the last Portuguese player to score a hat-trick against Germany in Euro 2000 drew Portugal level in the 63rd minute with a breathtaking long-range strike, just five minutes after coming on. Five minutes later, Nuno Mendes delivered a low cross into the box that Ronaldo converted with typical precision.
The turnaround was orchestrated by Portugal’s manager, Roberto Martinez, whose tactical switches paid instant dividends.
“We saw today what it means to him,” Martinez said post-match. “Cristiano is an example he wants to improve constantly. He gets up in the morning and whatever happened yesterday doesn’t affect his hunger. It’s contagious.”
Midfielder Vitinha, fresh off a Champions League win with Paris Saint-Germain at the same venue just days earlier, brought clarity and control to the center of the park, helping Portugal see out the victory in style. Germany’s goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen was forced into multiple saves late on to prevent further damage.
Ronaldo Defies Age, Inspires Legacy
The performance reinforced Ronaldo’s enduring impact on the game. While many view age as a ceiling, he continues to prove it a mere statistic. At 40, he is not just playing he is still winning matches, setting records, and carrying a nation.
Portugal will now face either France or Spain in the UEFA Nations League final, while Germany heads to the third-place playoff.
For Ronaldo, the night was more than a semifinal. It was a personal exorcism, a national breakthrough, and another page in a career that keeps on growing even at 40.
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