Roberto Martínez’s Portugal will face Julian Nagelsmann’s Germany this Wednesday in a match that brings back frustrating memories for the Portuguese. In their last five meetings, Germany has consistently had the upper hand, becoming a true nemesis for Portugal. Now, a spot in the UEFA Nations League final is at stake—and Cristiano Ronaldo, included in the squad, dreams of lifting another trophy with his beloved nation. But will he start?
After wrapping up a challenging 2024/25 season with Al Nassr—where he failed to win any titles—CR7 trained fully with his teammates ahead of the match and is expected to be part of Portugal’s starting eleven.
“Cristiano is set to reach 220 international appearances, with over 130 goals. I’m nowhere near that. It’s an incredible number. To maintain that level for over 20 years is extraordinary,” said German captain Joshua Kimmich, expressing his admiration for Ronaldo’s legacy.
Martínez enters this high-stakes encounter with a well-prepared lineup, aiming to break the decades-long curse Portugal has endured against Die Mannschaft (they haven’t won in 25 years) and reach their second Nations League final. The goal: to replicate their 2019 success when they triumphed over Switzerland and the Netherlands on home soil.
During preparations, Martínez also had to manage off-field distractions—such as transfer rumors involving Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes—while overseeing the fitness of key players who recently won the Champions League with PSG: left-back Nuno Mendes and midfielders Vitinha and João Neves, all vital to Portugal’s game plan.
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“In international football, there aren’t many chances to win trophies—and nothing beats that feeling. The important thing is that we’re here, and the Final Four is exactly where this team belongs. Over the past two and a half years, we’ve shown great resilience. Facing teams like Germany, Spain, or France are the perfect challenges to keep preparing us for the World Cup,” said Martínez, the architect of this new Portuguese era.
Portugal’s struggles against Germany
Portugal’s last win over Germany came 25 years ago. In 19 matchups, the record stands at 11 wins for Germany, 5 draws, and just 3 Portuguese victories. Their last away win on German soil? Nearly 40 years ago. Still, Germany holds deep respect for Portugal and, in particular, Cristiano Ronaldo—who, despite tormenting Bayern Munich in club play, has never beaten Germany with the national team.
Projected lineups: Germany vs Portugal
Germany: Ter Stegen; Kimmich, Tah, Anton, Mittelstädt; Gross, Goretzka; Sané, Wirtz, Gnabry; Woltemade.
Portugal: Diogo Costa; Dalot or Semedo, Ruben Dias, Gonçalo Inácio, Nuno Mendes; Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes, João Neves or Palhinha; Bernardo Silva, Cristiano Ronaldo, Rafael Leão.
