
Cristiano Ronaldo scores as Portugal beat Germany – Watch highlights as they reach UEFA Nations League 2025 final on Sunday
Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 137th international goal Wednesday night as Portugal defeated Germany 2-1 in Munich to reach the UEFA Nations League final, set to be played on Sunday.
Ronaldo's goal proved decisive as Portugal came from behind to beat the Germans on home soil for the first time since 2000.
At age 40, Ronaldo tapped in Nuno Mendes' low cross in the 68th minute, capping a five-minute turnaround that began with Francisco Conceição's equaliser.
Cristiano Ronaldo goal vs Germany 🐐 pic.twitter.com/DtWvYE9YQV — UJ (@uj_SZN) June 4, 2025
Conceição's goal came 25 years after his father, Sérgio Conceição, scored a hat-trick against Germany at Euro 2000.
The younger Conceição's contribution ensured Portugal a place in their second Nations League final, having won the inaugural edition in 2019.
Portugal will now face the winner of France vs Spain on June 8th's final, also in Munich.
🚨🇪🇺 GOAL | Germany 1-1 Portugal | Francisco Conceicao
WHAT A BEAUTIFUL GOAL FROM FRANCISCO CONCEICAO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!pic.twitter.com/9Lxooeab3b — Tekkers Foot (@tekkersfoot) June 4, 2025
The match opened with a cautious first half, ending 0-0.
Germany broke the deadlock shortly after the restart when Florian Wirtz headed in Joshua Kimmich's lofted pass on 48 minutes.
Kimmich was making his 100th appearance, while Wirtz, reportedly close to a $139 million move to Liverpool, gave the hosts an early advantage.
Roberto Martínez's side responded with intensity.
Portugal have won a competitive match vs Germany for the first time since 2000. pic.twitter.com/MfQERzO5zj — StatMuse FC (@statmusefc) June 4, 2025
Substitute Conceição levelled in the 63rd minute, five minutes after coming on, cutting inside from the right and curling past Marc-André ter Stegen.
Portugal contested the goal, claiming Nick Woltemade had obstructed Rúben Dias in the build-up, but referee Slavko Vinčić allowed it to stand after a VAR review.
Just moments later, Mendes found Ronaldo unmarked in front of goal to complete the comeback.
Germany pushed for an equaliser and came closest when Karim Adeyemi struck the post late on, but Portugal held firm to record their first competitive victory over Germany since UEFA Euro 2000.
It marked the second major fixture at the Allianz Arena in a week, following PSG's victory in the UEFA Champions League final last Saturday.
France and Spain contest the second semi-final on Thursday in Stuttgart. The final is set for Sunday June 8th in Munich.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Business Recorder
7 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Cristiano Ronaldo says he does not plan to play at Club World Cup
Al-Nassr and Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo said on Saturday he did not plan to play at the Club World Cup in the United States, despite being courted by clubs participating in the expanded 32-team tournament. Speculation over the 40-year-old's future intensified last month when FIFA President Gianni Infantino said discussions were underway about Ronaldo playing in the Club World Cup, despite Al-Nassr failing to qualify. Al-Nassr's sporting director Fernando Hierro said last month they were negotiating with Ronaldo over a contract extension but faced competition from a host of clubs eager to sign the five-times Ballon d'Or winner. Ronaldo himself added to the uncertainty after Al-Nassr's season-ending match at Al-Fateh, posting on social media: 'This chapter is over. The story? Still being written.' Asked about the possibility of signing for another club in the coming days in order to play at the Club World Cup later this month, Ronaldo told reporters: 'It's irrelevant, at the moment it doesn't make sense to talk about things other than the national team. 'There has been plenty of contact (from clubs), I see things that make sense, others that don't. You can't go to all of them (clubs), you have to think short, medium and long term. 'It's something that's practically decided on my part, which is not to go to the Club World Cup, but I've had plenty of invitations.' On Wednesday, Ronaldo scored the winner as Portugal beat Germany 2-1 to go into the Nations League final, where they will face Spain. Many have labelled Sunday's final as a face-off between Ronaldo and 17-year-old Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal but the Portuguese forward said he did not see it as such. 'It's always been like that, whenever I've played football, whenever I've played a big game it's always been Cristiano against this one, against that one,' he said. Ballon d'Or 'should go to Champions League winner', says Ronaldo 'It's been 20-something years and it's still the same, it doesn't keep me up at night anymore, it's a normal thing. They're completely different generations, a generation that's starting out, another that's finishing, which is my case. 'In reality it's not like that, it's a team against a team. It will always be like that… What I want most is for Portugal to be at a good level, confident that things can go well, that we can play a great game and win against a very good team, possibly the best in the world.'


Business Recorder
a day ago
- Business Recorder
Mbappe ‘not bitter' about PSG's Champions League triumph
STUTTGART: France captain Kylian Mbappe said Saturday he is not bitter Paris Saint-Germain won the Champions League the year after his departure for Real Madrid. 'I didn't leave too soon; my story with PSG was over. I am not bitter; I had reached the end of the road,' Mbappe said in a press conference ahead of Sunday's Nations League third place match against Germany in Stuttgart. PSG crushed Inter Milan 5-0 to win the Champions League in Munich last Saturday, the first time the club has won the competition. 'I tried everything, and it was destiny that meant it had to happen without me,' said Mbappe. 'PSG winning the Champions League without me doesn't affect me. I was happy, I think they deserved it. Ballon d'Or 'should go to Champions League winner', says Ronaldo 'They've had so many years where they struggled. I've been there too; I've played in every Champions League stage in Paris except for the victory. 'They're the best team in Europe. 'I don't remember seeing a team win 5-0 in a major final.' Mbappe has repeated his desire to win Europe's biggest club competition, but the closest the Paris-born forward got with his boyhood club was losing the final in 2020 to Bayern Munich. The 26-year-old moved to Madrid in the summer of 2024 hoping to lift the Champions League, but the Spanish giants crashed out in the quarter-finals of the competition to Arsenal in April. Real failed to win a trophy in the 2024-25 season, their first campaign without silverware in four years.


Business Recorder
a day ago
- Business Recorder
Ballon d'Or ‘should go to Champions League winner', says Ronaldo
MUNICH: Five-time Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo said Saturday the individual honour should be awarded to a player who won the Champions League. Speaking ahead of Sunday's Nations League final in Munich between Portugal and Spain, the veteran said 'trophies' should determine who wins the Ballon d'Or. 'In my opinion, whoever wins it should be on a team that has won trophies. The Ballon d'Or winner should be in a team that has won the Champions League,' the 40-year-old forward told reporters. First awarded in 1956 by French magazine France Football, the Ballon d'Or is awarded to the player considered the best over the previous season. Paris Saint-Germain's 5-0 thumping of Inter Milan in the Champions League final last Saturday led to growing calls for Ousmane Dembele to win this season's gong. Manchester United boost profit forecast after Europa League run lifts ticket sales Spain starlet Lamine Yamal's superb display in Thursday's 5-4 Nations League semi-final win over France however had some arguing the teenager should be awarded the Ballon d'Or, which would make the 17-year-old the youngest winner in its history. France coach Didier Deschamps backed Dembele for the award, saying 'considering the season Ousmane is having, he deserves it and that's all I wish for him'. At a press conference in Stuttgart on Saturday, France captain Kylian Mbappe told reporters he backed Dembele. 'Does anyone really need me to explain? Right now we're talking about Lamine Yamal and Ousmane Dembele, but I'm voting for Dembele.' Ronaldo said he 'cannot tell you who deserves it' this season. Ronaldo's five wins is bettered only by Argentinian Lionel Messi, who has won the award eight times. The duo had a monopoly on the award for a decade from Ronaldo's first win in 2008 to his last in 2017. The current holder is Spain and Manchester City midfielder Rodri.