Image source, Getty Images
Image caption, Cristiano Ronaldo is the joint-second top scorer in the 2024-25 Nations League with seven goals
Emlyn Begley
BBC Sport journalist
There aren’t many things Cristiano Ronaldo hasn’t done but beating Germany was one of them – until now.
When Ronaldo popped up with the winner in the Nations League semi-final in Munich, it extended his record goalscoring total – and ended a long wait.
It was the 40-year-old’s 137th international goal in 220 caps, and his 937th strike in all football.
All three of those totals are men’s records.
But until now Ronaldo had never experienced a worse record at international level against any other team.
He played Germany five times, losing all five – with Portugal last beating them at Euro 2000. But that is now five from six.
That means England take the record of the country Ronaldo has played the most times without beating – three (all draws). Although the biggest caveat in the world is needed here.
Portugal won two of the three ‘draws’ on penalties – the Euro 2004 and 2006 World Cup quarter-finals.
After Germany, the nation Ronaldo has suffered defeat against most is France – with four losses.
But his Portugal side most famously beat France in the Euro 2016 final, and there have been three draws (although that includes a penalty shootout defeat).
Ronaldo’s goalscorin
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