Ronaldo’s late satisfaction – finally defeated Germany at 40

Maybe he guessed something. When Cristiano Ronaldo appeared in the player tunnel, the TV cameras showed a very good-humored Portuguese captain, who laughed all the inlet children laughing. Usually football professionals look rather seriously or tense before a significant game, but Ronaldo shone and led the Seleção with a wide breast on the lawn of the Munich Allianz Arena.

Now you have to know that this Ronaldo lost all five games against Germany at big tournaments during his incredible career. It has been like this since 2006, 19 years the shame. He received the first defeat at the World Cup in the opponent’s home. The winning goal shooters for the DFB team were then called Bastian Schweinsteiger and Thomas Hitzlsberger. An own goal of the Portuguese made the 1: 3 bankruptcy.

Ronaldo’s mood did not seem to be able to detract from the present. The viewer looked like it was to enjoy the football methodal to the fullest of finally standing on the big stage again.

This is no longer common for Ronaldo. He has been working in the Saudi Pro League for two years. The job is well paid for, but has a lot of frustration for an aging artist. The sporting level is rather low. The championship title was also not enough for his club Al-Nassr FC since Ronaldo started there two years ago-even though he scores goals like on the assembly line. But now: National League semi-final against a big opponent, 65,000 spectators in Munich. Finally another appearance, as is for a superstar.

Ronaldo played with a lot of effort as you know it in the national team, but initially without Fortune. His first shot on the gate from a good position in the 7th minute looked like old men football-too inaccurate and without pressure the ball landed in the arms of Marc-André Ter Stegen. The free kick from 35 meters, which Ronaldo in the second half in a tried and tested manner made onto the gate in a tried and tested manner, caught in the German wall. After all, he showed his still impressive jumping power shortly before in a header.

At that point, nobody suspected that it should be a special game. This was because Germany was in the lead by a header from Florian Wirtz. So it ran as usual. But then national coach Julian Nagelsmann made a change of three (Gnabry, Goosens and Füllkrug for Sané, Mittelstädt and Woltemade), and the DFB team completely lost its rhythm. Portugal took command and played the opponent on the wall. First Francisco Conceição (best man of the evening) scored a fantastically beautiful goal from a distance after a brilliant start, a little later Ronaldo had his big appearance: the old man only needed a cross from Nuno Mendes – the winning goal.

Afterwards, Ronaldo felt every player individually in his arms and enjoyed the triumph. It was his 137th goal in the 220th international. And as a crowning glory he ended his Germany trauma. There is no more on a spring evening in Munich in 2025. Not even for Ronaldo.