Soccer
You knew he’d do it - Cristiano Ronaldo into the record books yet again
The 39-year-old becomes Portugal’s oldest-ever scorer, leading his team to a commanding Nations League quarterfinal spot after a 5-1 rout of Poland.
Portugal has officially secured a place in the Nations League quarterfinals, dominating their group with a decisive 5-1 victory over Poland. For the Poles, the defeat leaves them battling to avoid relegation to League B. However, the night belonged to Cristiano Ronaldo, who, at 39 years and 284 days, set a new record as the oldest player to score for Portugal.
The veteran forward netted twice, showcasing his enduring brilliance. Alongside Ronaldo, Rafael Leão—seemingly back in favor at AC Milan under coach Paulo Fonseca—played a pivotal role in Portugal’s attack. Behind them, the Premier League trio of Bernardo Silva (Manchester City), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), and Pedro Neto (Chelsea) orchestrated a dominant performance that overwhelmed Poland early on, though Portugal’s shape faltered slightly as the first half progressed.
Poland’s early resistance without Lewandowski
Despite missing star striker Robert Lewandowski, Poland tested Portugal’s goalkeeper Diogo Costa twice before the half-hour mark. Shots from Nicola Zalewski and Bartosz Bereszyński forced Costa into action, though the Porto keeper managed to keep his net intact. The Polish side’s misfortune continued when Bereszyński suffered an injury, leading to his substitution by Jakub Kamiński in the 32nd minute. Striker Krzysztof Piątek also came close to breaking the deadlock, but Portugal managed to reach halftime unscathed.
Second-half dominance
Portugal came alive in the second half, driven by the introduction of Vitinha, whose midfield presence stabilized the team’s play. In the 59th minute, Nuno Mendes delivered a pinpoint cross to Leão, who headed the ball into the net with clinical precision. Moments later, a handball by Poland’s Jakub Kiwior in the penalty area gave Cristiano Ronaldo the chance to convert from the spot. The goal not only extended Portugal’s lead but also secured Ronaldo’s historic milestone as Portugal’s oldest scorer, surpassing his former teammate Pepe.
The floodgates opened soon after. Bruno Fernandes unleashed a stunning strike into the top corner, and Pedro Neto finished off a counterattack, effectively sealing the game. Ronaldo then capped off the night with a spectacular overhead kick from a Vitinha cross, completing his brace and Portugal’s emphatic performance.
Late consolation for Poland
Poland managed a consolation goal in the dying minutes through Kamil Marczuk, but it did little to diminish Portugal’s dominance. With this victory, Portugal advances confidently to the quarterfinals, cementing their status as one of the tournament favorites. For Cristiano Ronaldo, the night was another testament to his unmatched longevity and knack for rewriting the record books.
- 22 Diogo Costa
- 24 Antonio Tavares Da Sila
- 19 Nuno Mendes (87')
- 5 Diogo Dalot
- Renato Veiga
- 8 Bruno Fernandes
- 25 Pedro Neto (83')
- 17 Rafael Leao (83')
- 15 João Neves (45')
- 10 Bernardo Silva (76')
- 7 Cristiano x2
- Substitutes
- 2 Nelson Semedo
- Otavinho
- Samuel Costa (76')
- Tomas Araujo
- 12 José Sá
- 26 Francisco Conceição
- 11 João Félix (83')
- Trincão (83')
- Nuno Tavares (87')
- 20 Cancelo
- 23 Vitor Ferreira (45')
- Rui Silva
- 22 Marcin Bulka
- 14 Jakub Kiwior
- 5 Bednarek (45')
- Piatkowski
- 21 Nicola Zalewski
- 10 Zielinski
- 13 Taras Romanchuk
- 26 Kacper Urbanski (72')
- 18 Bereszynski (31')
- 23 Krzysztof Piatek (80')
- Mateusz Bogusz (45')
- Substitutes
- Bartlomiej Dragowski
- 24 Bartosz Slisz
- 15 Tymoteusz Puchacz
- Dominik Marczuk (45')
- 8 Jakub Moder
- Antoni Kozubal (80')
- Jakub Kaminski (31')
- 4 Sebastian Walukiewicz (45')
- 16 Adam Buksa (72')
- 12 Skorupski
Substitutions
Jakub Kaminski (31', Bartosz Bereszynski), Dominik Marczuk (45', Mateusz Bogusz), Sebastian Walukiewicz (45', Jan Bednarek), Vitinha (45', João Neves), Adam Buksa (72', Kacper Urbanski), Samú Costa (76', Bernardo Silva), Antoni Kozubal (80', Krzysztof Piatek), João Félix (83', Rafael Leão), Trincão (83', Pedro Neto), Nuno Tavares (87', Nuno Mendes)
Goals
1-0, 58': Rafael Leao, 2-0, 71': Cristiano, 3-0, 79': Bruno Fernandes, 4-0, 82': Pedro Neto, 5-0, 86': Cristiano, 5-1, 87': Dominik Marczuk
Cards
Referee: Donatas Rumsas
VAR Referee: Dennis Higler, Donatas Šimenas
Bruno Fernandes (24',Yellow), João Neves (24',Yellow), Cristiano (46',Yellow), Marcin Bulka (55',Yellow), Nuno Tavares (90',Yellow)
