The 39-year-old becomes Portugal's oldest ever goalscorer and leads his team to an impressive Nations League quarter-final after a 5-1 defeat to Poland.
Portugal have officially secured their place in the quarter-finals of the Nations League, dominating their group with a decisive 5-1 victory over Poland. For the Poles, the defeat means that they have to fight to avoid relegation to League B. However, the night belonged to Cristiano Ronaldo, who set a new record as the oldest player to score for Portugal at 39 years and 284 days.
The experienced striker scored twice, showing his enduring brilliance. In addition to Ronaldo, Rafael Leão – apparently back in favor with AC Milan under coach Paulo Fonseca – played a crucial role in the Portuguese attack. Behind them, Premier League trio Bernardo Silva (Manchester City), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) and Pedro Neto (Chelsea) orchestrated a dominant performance that overwhelmed Poland early on, although Portugal's form faltered slightly as the first half progressed.
Poland's early resistance without Lewandowski
Despite missing star striker Robert Lewandowski, Poland tested Portuguese goalkeeper Diogo Costa twice before the half-hour mark. Shots from Nicola Zalewski and Bartosz Bereszyński forced Costa into action, although 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 was also close to breaking the deadlock, but Portugal managed to reach halftime unscathed.
Domination in the second half
Portugal came alive in the second half, driven by the introduction of Vitinha, whose presence in midfield stabilized the team's play. In the 59th minute, Nuno Mendes delivered a sharp cross to Leão, who headed the ball into the net with clinical precision. Moments later, a handball from 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 goalscorer, surpassing his former teammate Pepe.
Shortly afterwards the floodgates opened. Bruno Fernandes unleashed a stunning strike into the top corner, and Pedro Neto finished off a counter-attack, effectively sealing the match. Ronaldo then ended the evening with a spectacular bicycle kick from a Vitinha cross, completing his brace and Portugal's emphatic performance.
Belated consolation for Poland
Poland managed to score a consolation goal in the final minutes through Kamil Marczuk, but that did little to detract from Portugal's dominance. With this victory, Portugal confidently advance to the quarter-finals, confirming their status as one of the tournament favorites. For Cristiano Ronaldo, the evening was further proof of his unparalleled longevity and talent for rewriting the record books.
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