Cristiano Ronaldo Powers Portugal to Nations League Final with Record-Breaking Performance

Cristiano Ronaldo Powers Portugal to Nations League Final with Record-Breaking Performance
By Fredrick Tavershima Iyorhon

Cristiano Ronaldo led Portugal to a thrilling 2-1 comeback victory over Germany, securing their spot in the Nations League final. After Florian Wirtz’s stunning header gave Germany an early lead, Portugal’s fortunes changed with a triple substitution by coach Roberto Martinez. Francisco Conceição’s spectacular equalizer was followed by Ronaldo’s decisive goal, which he slotted into an empty net after a brilliant pass from Nuno Mendes.

Ronaldo’s goal not only sealed the win but also broke the record for most goals in a single Nations League A campaign with seven strikes, surpassing Romelu Lukaku and Ferran Torres’ joint record. This marks Portugal’s second Nations League final appearance, following their triumph in the inaugural edition in 2019.

The win also marked Portugal’s first victory over Germany in any competition in 25 years. Former Manchester City star Andy Hinchcliffe praised Portugal’s second-half performance, highlighting the team’s effective “pass and move” football. Portugal will now face the winner of the Spain-France semi-final in the Nations League final.