Portugal Archives

Ronaldo breaks Germany jinx as Portugal reach Nations League final

Cristiano Ronaldo scored the winner in a 2-1 victory over Germany in Munich on Wednesday, sending Portugal through to the Nations League final and breaking his run of bad fortune against the Germans.

Ronaldo’s 68th-minute tap in, a record-extending 137th international goal, sealed a first win over Germany after five losses, the 40-year-old’s longest streak against any national side without tasting victory.

After a stuttering first half, Florian Wirtz produced a moment of magic to give Germany the lead three minutes after halftime, starting and finishing a clever burst through the middle and heading in the opener.

Portugal’s Francisco Conceicao ran 35 metres to score a brilliant solo goal, levelling things up with half an hour remaining.

Conceicao’s goal was a fitting tribute to his father Sergio, who scored a hat-trick the last time Portugal beat Germany in a 3-0 win in 2000.

The stage was then set for Ronaldo, who had missed two solid chances earlier, to land the telling blow, turning in a Nuno Mendes pass from close range.

Portugal, winners of the inaugural Nations League in 2019, will now face either European champions Spain or France in Sunday’s final at the same venue.

Portugal midfielder Bernardo Silva celebrated Ronaldo’s relentless desire to play and win.

“It’s never easy — I don’t know how old he is, I think he’s like 40 — to still be hungry to go on every day,” said Silva. “We’re very happy to have him with us.”

Portugal had four players backing up from winning Saturday’s Champions League final — and the ensuing celebrations — but it was Germany who struggled to find rhythm early.

The match started 10 minutes late due to a violent storm, which left hailstones scattered across the turf.

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Aleksandar Pavlovic mislaid several passes while Portugal’s approach of pressing Jonathan Tah almost paid dividends, with the defender insecure in possession.

Ronaldo, greeted by Portuguese cheers and German boos every time he came near the ball, almost scored the opener six minutes in, but his shot was claimed by old La Liga sparring partner Marc-Andre ter Stegen, playing his first match for Germany since September 2024.

Germany’s best chance of the opening half fell to debutant Nick Woltemade with 18 minutes gone, but the 1.98-metre-tall striker’s low shot was well saved by Diogo Costa.

Ronaldo was inches away from giving Portugal the lead when the visitors broke immediately after halftime, but he was unable to get enough of his boot on a clever Nuno Mendes cross with an open goal beckoning.

Germany took less than a minute to punish the miss. Wirtz tiptoed down the left side, attracting three defenders before laying off for Joshua Kimmich.

The German captain chipped it over the Portugal defence and back to Wirtz, who expertly guided a low header into the bottom right corner.

Both sides made three changes on the 60-minute mark, but it was Roberto Martinez’s substitutions that had the telling impact.

Five minutes after coming on, Conceicao shed Robin Gosens with a shimmy near the halfway line and advanced goalwards before unleashing a superb curling shot past the desperate fingers of Ter Stegen.

Ronaldo then put Portugal in front, nervelessly tapping in a Nuno Mendes pass to make up for his previous misses – his 137th goal for Portugal in his 219th international.

Munich-born Karim Adeyemi rattled the crossbar with eight minutes remaining, but Germany could not find an equaliser and will need to be content with a third-placed match in Stuttgart on Sunday.

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Cristiano Ronaldo’s eldest son called up by Portugal Under-15s

Cristiano dos Santos, the eldest son of five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo, was called up to the Portugal Under-15 squad for the first time on Tuesday.

The 14-year-old, who, like his father, plays for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, has also had spells with Ronaldo’s former clubs Manchester United and Juventus.

The Selecao Under-15s will face Japan, Greece and England at the Vlatko Markovic youth tournament in Croatia between May 13-18.

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Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid’s all-time top goal scorer and still a Portugal international himself at 40, has five children.

The striker won Euro 2016 with his country, helping them lift their first major trophy, although he came off hurt early in the final against France.

Portugal Under-15 Squad

Cristiano dos Santos, Daniel Freire, Emiliano Cassamá, Gonçalo Fontes, Gonçalo Santos, Henrique Maduro, João Lopes, Salvador Ribeiro, Tiago Caires, Afonso Pereira, Guilherme Maia, André Marques, Carlos Moita, Eduardo Alves, Guilherme Lima, Rafael Cabral, Valdir Fernandes, Vicente Santos, Donte Lawrence, Henrique Amen, Lourenço Fernandes, Tiago Amorim.

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Ronaldo shines as Portugal rout Poland to reach Nations League last-eight

Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Portugal staged a second-half supershow to crush Poland 5-1 and reach the Nations League quarter-finals on Friday.

Portugal joined France, Germany, Italy, and Spain in the quarter-finals of the Nations League, while the hopes of Poland to advance were ended.

Having struggled to plant a shot on target in the first half, Portugal stepped on the accelerator after the break.

Rafael Leao broke the deadlock in Porto just before the hour mark after starting and finishing the move.

The AC Milan striker raced away and passed to Nuno Mendes whose cross from the left was headed powerfully past Marcin Bulka in the Portugal goal.

Thirteen minutes later, skipper Ronaldo got his name on the scoresheet, converting a penalty after Jakub Kiwior was penalised for a handball in the area.

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Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes made it 3-0 in the 80th minute, scoring after a clever run by Vitinha.

Pedro Neto added the fourth three minutes later after Ronaldo’s fine pass which left the Polish defence stranded.

As Polish spirits sank, Ronaldo added his second and Portugal’s fifth in the 87th minute with a spectacular overhead kick before Dominik Marczuk tucked away a consolation goal for the visitors.

Poland had enjoyed the better chances before falling behind but their potency in front of goal was blunted by the absence of record goal-scorer Robert Lewandowski who was sidelined with a back injury.

Moments before Leao’s goal, Portuguese keeper Diogo Costa pulled off a fine save to deny Marczuk having also been alert to deny Nicola Zalewski in the first half.

Portugal’s best chance in the first 45 minutes had fallen to Ronaldo who fired a close-range effort over the bar from close range.

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Ronaldo scores record-900th career goal to help Portugal beat Croatia

Cristiano Ronaldo scored the 900th goal of his remarkable career on Thursday as Portugal beat Croatia 2-1 in Lisbon in their first game of the UEFA Nations League.

Ronaldo, 39, put behind him a disappointing Euro 2024 in which he failed to score as he turned in a Nuno Mendes cross in the 34th minute at the Estadio da Luz to reach the landmark.

He appeared emotional as he celebrated the goal, his 131st in a Portugal shirt. Half of his goals were scored for Real Madrid, with the remainder spread across his spells at Sporting Lisbon, Manchester United and current club Al-Nassr.

Diogo Dalot’s goal had put Portugal in front early on before Ronaldo netted, with a Dalot own-goal reducing the deficit before the break.

The teams are in Group A1 of the latest edition of the Nations League along with Poland and Scotland.

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Portugal next host Scotland, who lost 3-2 to Poland, in Lisbon on Sunday.

Poland had been 2-0 up as Sebastian Szymanski gave them an early lead and captain Robert Lewandowski added a penalty just before the break.

However, Billy Gilmour pulled one back for League A newcomers Scotland moments after the restart, and Scott McTominay equalised before Roma’s Zalewski sneaked his spot-kick under Angus Gunn deep into stoppage time.

Elsewhere, there were wins for Slovakia and Northern Ireland in League C, while Sweden — now being coached by Jon Dahl Tomasson — beat Azerbaijan 3-1 away in Baku with Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak netting twice.

History was made in League D as San Marino, the world’s worst team according to the FIFA rankings, beat Liechtenstein 1-0 to claim their first ever competitive win.

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Portugal defender Pepe announces retirement at 41

Portugal veteran Pepe announced on Thursday in a video on social media he was retiring from football aged 41.

“I would like to thank you all,” said the centre-back as he cited the clubs he represented, as well as the Portuguese national team and his family.

“Everyone gave me the support I needed to leave with my mind at ease.”

Pepe joined Portuguese side Maritimo at the age of 18 and went on to play for Porto, Spanish giants Real Madrid and Turkish club Besiktas.

He spent a trophy-laden 10 years with Madrid, where he won three Champions Leagues, two Club World Cups and three Spanish league titles.

He also enjoyed two stints at Porto, between 2004-2007 and 2019-2024, winning a total of four Portuguese championships and five Portuguese Cups.

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Former Madrid and Portugal team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo paid homage to Pepe in a post on Instagram: “There are no words to express what you mean to me, my friend.

“We won everything there was to win on the pitch, but the biggest triumph is the friendship and the respect I have for you. You’re unique, my brother.

“Thank you for so much.”

Although born in Brazil, the centre-back made his international debut for his adopted country of Portugal in 2007 and went on to earn 141 caps, winning their first piece of major silverware at Euro 2016, as well as the Nations League three years later.

Pepe set a new record as the oldest player to ever play at a European Championship when he started Portugal’s opening game at Euro 2024, aged 41.

Portugal’s elimination on penalties at the quarter-final stage of the tournament against France turned out to be the final game of Pepe’s 22-year career at the top level of the game.

Portuguese football federation president Fernando Gomes labelled the defender “one of the greatest players of all time” and thanked him for his “extraordinary professionalism, dedication… and passion for football”.

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End beckons again for Cristiano Ronaldo after Portugal Euros exit

Time is up — again — for Portugal’s ageing superstar Cristiano Ronaldo after an inglorious Euro 2024 exit with a quarter-final defeat against France.

France ousted the 2016 winners 5-3 on penalties after a goalless quarter-final in Hamburg on Friday and Ronaldo was ineffectual at best, damaging to his own side’s aspirations at worst.

In the 2022 World Cup when former coach Fernando Santos dropped Ronaldo to the bench for the team’s 6-1 demolition of Switzerland, a bright Portugal future shimmered on the horizon.

However, his successor Roberto Martinez has backed the 39-year-old, now playing in Saudi Arabia at Al-Nassr, to the hilt and beyond.

Maintaining the former Real Madrid and Manchester United forward as their figurehead, Portugal swept through Euros qualification with a 100 percent record and were among the favourites in Germany.

However, they have badly under-performed with Ronaldo failing to find the net in five appearances this summer. The striker is without a goal in his last nine major tournament matches.

Despite boasting strong options to replace him, including Liverpool’s Diogo Jota and Paris Saint-Germain’s Goncalo Ramos, Martinez refused to take Ronaldo off against France.

Didier Deschamps substituted Les Bleus icon Kylian Mbappe as he struggled to make an impact but Ronaldo remained even as the game passed him by.

In Portugal’s Last-16 win over Slovenia, Cristiano Ronaldo missed a penalty in extra-time and burst into tears, a distracting sideshow, but Martinez praised the forward’s emotional reaction after the game as a sign of his passion.

However many suspect those tears were not for Portugal but for himself, as he failed to break the record for the oldest player ever to score at a European Championship.

Ronaldo also ended his run of scoring at every major international tournament he has competed in, and could not extend his record of 14 Euros goals.

He took 23 shots without success in Germany, and perhaps the most damning was a glittering opportunity in extra-time against France.

Spritely winger Francisco Conceicao cut the ball back to the forward, a few yards out from goal, but somehow he fired his team’s clearest chance high over the bar.

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It was the kind of chance that Ronaldo has dispatched a hundred times in his career.

Ronaldo’s presence heavily conditions the way Portugal plays.

His team-mates, including creative geniuses Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva, often resort to crosses to try and find him.

Cristiano Ronaldo no longer has the pace to consistently break in behind the defence, limiting the passing options of the team’s playmakers.

Martinez not only did not seem powerful enough to leave Ronaldo out of his plans altogether but could not even bring himself to substitute the forward at the tournament, except for in the shock 2-0 defeat by Georgia.

Ronaldo started that match even though Portugal were guaranteed to win the group, while virtually every other regular was rested.

The coach said after elimination by France that no decision had been made over Ronaldo’s future at international level.

“We just finished the game, everything is still too raw, we’re suffering a defeat as a team, there’s no individual decisions at this point,” Martinez told reporters.

One of the reasons the Spanish coach may not feel powerful enough to cut the cord is the ‘cult of Cristiano’ which is evident among the team’s supporters.

Adults stalked the streets of Frankfurt, Leipzig and Berlin this summer relentlessly yelling Ronaldo’s “Siiiiiuuuu” celebration, for hours on end.

To attend a Portugal match is to swim in a sea of maroon Ronaldo ‘7’ shirts, with some fans wearing masks of their talisman’s face.

Even opposition fans come to watch the Ronaldo circus, though there is more sulking and pouting than goals now.

“(Our fans) mostly wanted to see Ronaldo, that’s why they flocked to the match,” noted Slovenia midfielder Adam Gnezda Cerin of a March friendly in which they beat Ronaldo and Portugal 2-0.

Although at the Euros they were eventually eliminated by Portugal on penalties, they exposed Ronaldo’s inadequacies once more at this level and France finished the job.

Cristiano Ronaldo admitted these will be his last Euros, but as Portugal now turn their attention to the 2026 World Cup, their chances will surely be magnified without the preening, past-it hitman.

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Georgia stun Portugal to reach Euro 2024 knockouts in first major international tournament

Georgia are through to the last 16 of Euro 2024 after Wednesday’s 2-0 win over Portugal, a historic triumph in the former Soviet Republic’s first appearance at a major international tournament.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s fine finish with less than two minutes on the clock in Gelsenkirchen and Georges Mikautadze’s 57th-minute penalty ensured Georgia would claim the greatest football victory in the Black Sea nation’s history.

Georgia’s players celebrated with their delirious fans long after the final whistle, after inflicting a first defeat since the 2022 World Cup on Portugal and being rewarded for the sheer fun they have brought to the tournament.

Willy Sagnol’s team qualify from Group F as one of the four best third-placed finishers and face a daunting clash with Spain, who won all their group games, on Sunday.

“We just made history, nobody would have believed that we would have made it happen by beating Portugal, but this is why we are a strong team,” Kvaratskhelia told reporters.

“If there is even one percent chance you can make it happen if you believe.”

Portugal had already qualified for the next round as group winners and coach Roberto Martinez made eight changes from the team which swept Turkey aside to guarantee first place last weekend.

However, his team were on top for most of the match and looked likely to equalise before Antonio Silva, who gave the ball away for the first goal, was harshly penalised for light contact with Luka Lochoshvili to give away the decisive penalty.

“We were low intensity, we conceded early which is what Georgia needed and after that, we weren’t clear-headed in our passing or finishing,” Martinez told reporters.

“We tried to score but couldn’t, that gave Georgia heart and in the end, it was a deserved win.”

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Regardless Portugal will face Slovenia on Monday and, saving any injuries, Martinez will have a mostly rested first XI to call upon.

Kvaratskhelia was the beneficiary of Silva sloppily giving away possession to Mikautadze, who after scoring in both of Georgia’s previous matches with Turkey and the Czech Republic turned provider.

Mikautadze gave a perfectly-weighted pass to Kvaratskhelia who burst through on goal from his preferred position in the inside-right channel and stroked home a precision finish.

It was unfamiliarly clinical finishing from Georgia who would have come into Wednesday’s match with more than one point had they made the most of their chances.

From there, Sagnol’s team were content to sit back and protect their slender lead as Portugal sent forward wave after wave of attack against a packed defence.

First Ronaldo smashed a free-kick straight at Georgia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili in the 17th minute before he was booked just before the half-hour mark for dissent after what he thought was a foul from Lochoshvili.

Francisco Conceicao hit the side netting while Ronaldo protested to referee Sandro Scherer and moments later Joao Felix fizzed a long-range shot just wide.

Ronaldo’s frustrations continued almost immediately after half-time when he looked certain to score from a corner only for Lasha Dvali to unwittingly save the day with his back.

Kvaratskhelia then wasted a great chance to double his team’s lead before Mikautadze, who has been Georgia’s best player in the tournament, stroked in his third goal in as many games from the penalty spot.

Georgia then closed ranks and made rare, but dangerous forays into Portugal’s defensive third, holding out for the win to the joy of their supporters.

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Cristiano Ronaldo shows us ‘anything is possible’: Portugal’s Dias

Portugal defender Ruben Dias said Cristiano Ronaldo’s presence shows their squad they can achieve anything as they prepare to make their Euro 2024 bow against the Czech Republic on Tuesday.

Portugal won Euro 2016 and are spearheaded by 39-year-old superstar striker Cristiano Ronaldo, preparing to play at a record-extending sixth Euros.

Cristiano Ronaldo, the record men’s international goalscorer with 130 strikes for his country, is also the all-time top scorer at the tournament with 14, a distance ahead of former France great Michel Platini in second spot on nine goals.

“I would say he represents inspiration, he represents that anything is possible, he represents all that you can dream, and achieve it,” Manchester City centre-back Ruben Dias told a news conference Monday.

“Mainly I would like to say it’s a pleasure to have him with us. More than all these little things or big things, him being with us in this moment of his career represents that he wants to win again.

“He’s our captain and obviously we follow him to the end.”

If Ronaldo scores at the Euros this summer he will become the competition’s oldest goalscorer of all time, breaking a record set by Austria’s Ivica Vastic at 38 in Euro 2008.

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Portugal coach Roberto Martinez said Cristiano Ronaldo’s experience could be vital at the tournament, along with veteran centre-back Pepe, 41.

“(Ronaldo) is very important… at tournaments, Euros and World Cups, the key is a mix of experience and new talent,” said Martinez.

“Our team does it perfectly — you mentioned Cristiano, and him and Pepe bring experience nobody else has, they are the two oldest players at the tournament.

“Then we have (the young players too)… we need all of this, they all need to be linked together, committed, that is crucial for us.”

Czech Republic and West Ham United midfielder Tomas Soucek said his team could not afford to let their guard down against the Al Nassr striker.

“We all know Ronaldo’s quality especially if you give him space,” Soucek told a news conference.

“We can’t give him an inch, especially in the area — (there) we need to double our defence on him.

“Our goal is to stop him but obviously we need to stop the rest of the Portuguese team too.”

If Ronaldo fires then Portugal may be able to live up to their billing as one of the favourites to win the tournament.

Martinez said he was aiming for that when asked if he had packed enough clothes in his suitcase to go the full distance.

“We must believe, we need to dream big — if we don’t dream big then it will be tough,” he said.

“Tomorrow will be the right time to show we are ready, that we can meet all the expectations, but after the first three matches we can gauge whether or not we deserve to stay or not.

“I brought seven shirts, not three.”

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Rampant Portugal thrash Sweden without Ronaldo

Roberto Martinez’s Portugal dismantled Sweden 5-2 in a friendly ahead of this summer’s European Championships without talisman striker Cristiano Ronaldo.

39-year-old Ronaldo was rested by Martinez but his team strolled to an easy victory regardless in Guimaraes.

Rafael Leao, Matheus Nunes and Bruno Fernandes all struck for the rampant hosts in the first half.

Bruma and Goncalo Ramos added to Portugal’s tally after the break, while Sweden attackers Viktor Gyokeres and Gustaf Nilsson netted at the other end.

“I really liked the commitment and very good spirit,” said Martinez, who has 11 wins from 11 matches at the helm.

However, the Spanish coach was not impressed with conceding twice.

“It’s a friendly, but I didn’t like giving two goals away in the way we did,” he added.

Sweden, who failed to reach Euro 2024, were largely woeful in new coach Jon Dahl Tomasson’s first match in charge — the former Denmark international became the country’s first foreign-born coach when he was appointed in February.

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Euro 2016 champions Portugal showed why they are among the favourites again this year.

AC Milan winger Leao smashed home the opener into the top corner after Bernardo Silva hit the post after 24 minutes.

Manchester City midfielder Nunes netted an excellent second soon after, slicing open the defence and tucking home at the near post.

Nelson Semedo set up the third goal, putting the ball on a plate for Bruno Fernandes to finish from close range for his 20th international goal.

The Manchester United playmaker turned provider for the fourth goal, teeing up Bruma to roll home.

Gyokeres, the top scorer in Portugal with Sporting Lisbon, pulled one back for Sweden soon afterwards, but Goncalo Ramos quickly pounced at the other end, with Portugal razor sharp on the counter-attack.

Debutant Jota Silva should have added a sixth in his home stadium but Sweden goalkeeper Robin Olsen denied him from point-blank range.

Sweden pulled one back in stoppage time with towering striker Nilsson heading home Dejan Kulusevski’s cross.

Portugal, who won all 10 of their qualifying matches for Euro 2024, face Slovenia in another friendly on Tuesday.

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Ronaldo double seals Euro 2024 qualification for Portugal

Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Portugal edged a 3-2 thriller against Slovakia in Porto on Friday to book their place at Euro 2024.

Ronaldo scored a first-half penalty and a second-half tap-in as the Portuguese made it seven wins from seven matches in Group J. They have 21 points which ensures them a top-two finish.

“Cristiano Ronaldo is having a great time, playing a lot of minutes and scoring a lot of goals for his club,” said Portugal coach Roberto Martinez.

“He has a lot of experience with the national team and he’s a reference point for young players.”

Slovakia are eight points back in second, two ahead of Luxembourg who they play on Monday.

Portugal got off to a flying start when Ramos rose highest to meet Bruno Fernandes’ cross in the eighth minute, heading the ball down and past Martin Dubravka in the Slovakia goal.

It marked a seventh goal in just nine matches for Ramos and a sixth assist of the campaign for Fernandes who almost doubled the score in the 26th minute only to be denied by a brilliant one-handed save by Dubravka.

Three minutes later Denis Vavro was adjudged to have handled the ball, a decision confirmed by VAR.

Ronaldo stepped up to slot home his 124th goal for Portugal in the venue where he scored his first international goal, against Greece in the opening game of Euro 2004.

Slovakia came back into the game in the 69th minute when David Hancko’s shot from outside the area deflected off Antonio Silva’s heel and into the bottom corner – the first goal Portugal had conceded in qualifying.

Three minutes later, Ronaldo restored the two-goal advantage tapping in another lovely cross from Fernandes for goal number 125.

Ten minutes from time, however, the game was back on as Stanislav Lobotka let fly from outside the area and buried the ball in the top corner.

Portugal should have sealed it late on but Diogo Jota was denied by the outstanding Dubravka but the hosts had done enough to stamp their ticket for the Euros.

“We won the match with a very good first half,” said Martinez.

“The important thing was the result. In seven games we’ve shown a perfect attitude. I’m very satisfied, but it’s only a stage.”

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