Portugal 5-1 Poland: Ronaldo overhead kick caps five-star Selecao display

Cristiano Ronaldo scored two goals – including a stunning overhead kick – as Portugal crushed Poland 5-1 to clinch top spot in Nations League Group A1, with all six goals coming in the second half.

Ronaldo was joined on the scoresheet by Rafael Leao, Bruno Fernandes and Pedro Neto as Portugal improved massively following a first half in which they did not manage a single shot on target.

Having just shaded a quiet opening period, Poland found themselves behind when Leao stooped to nod Portugal ahead just before the hour mark, mere moments after Diogo Costa had denied Jakub Kaminski at the other end.

A Jakub Kiwior handball enabled Ronaldo to make it 2-0 from the penalty spot after 72 minutes, then Fernandes smashed a shot off the crossbar and in for 3-0 eight minutes later.

Chelsea winger Neto swiftly added a fourth by powering home on his weaker right foot, but the pick of Portugal’s goals came via Ronaldo with three minutes of the 90 remaining.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner watched a dinked cross from the impressive Vitinha all the way before beating Marcin Bulka with an acrobatic overhead kick from close range.

Substitute Dominik Marczuk pulled one back for Poland at the death, but the heavy defeat – coupled with Scotland’s 1-0 win over Croatia – puts them in severe danger of relegation.

Should Michal Probierz’s team lose to the Tartan Army in Warsaw on Monday, they will drop to the second tier for the next edition of the Nations League in 2026-27. Portugal, meanwhile, are assured of a place in March’s quarter-finals.

Data Debrief: Ronaldo remains the main man

After seeing Ronaldo go airborne to convert Vitinha’s cross and put the icing on the Portugal cake, it was easy to forget that the legendary forward will enter his forties in just over two months.

He was well-marshalled by Poland in the first half, when Portugal only recorded nine touches in the visitors’ area.

However, he ended the encounter with two goals from a game-high 2.06 xG, generated from five shots, also the most of any player on the pitch. He now has 135 senior international goals, 23 more than his great rival Lionel Messi.