For the second time in the four years that it’s run, Portugal is headed to the UEFA Nations League final.
And it has the foot of Cristiano Ronaldo to thank for it.
Ronaldo scored the game-winner in Wednesday’s semifinal match to propel Portugal to a 2-1 win over Germany. The win is Portugal’s first against Germany since 2000. And it puts Portugal in position to win a second Nations League title after winning the inaugural event in 2019.
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Germany struck first on Wednesday with a header by Florian Wirtz in the 48th minute to give the Germans a 1-0 lead.
Portugal then tied the game in the 63rd minute with a Francisco Conceição goal from the top of the box, setting up Ronaldo’s heroics just minutes later.
With the game tied at 1-1 in the 68th minute, Portugal’s Nuno Mendes attacked from the left side of the box. He then sent a pass to the center of the goal box that Ronaldo one-timed past goaltender Marc-André ter Stegen.
From there, Germany did not get another shot on goal as Portugal held on to advance to the final.
In the final, Portugal will take on the winner of Thursday’s other semifinal between Spain and France. The final will take place on Sunday.
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The Nations League was established in 2019 as an international competition with stakes in some of the years in which the quadrennial European Championship doesn’t take place. It takes place every two years.
Portugal won the first competition in 2019, followed by Italy in 2021 and Netherlands in 2023.
