Ronaldo Scores his 137th Int’l Goal, Leads Portugal to Nations League Final

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo applauds as he leaves the pitch after being substituted during the Nations League semifinal soccer match between Portugal and Germany at the Munich Football Arena, in Munich, Germany, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo applauds as he leaves the pitch after being substituted during the Nations League semifinal soccer match between Portugal and Germany at the Munich Football Arena, in Munich, Germany, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
TT

Ronaldo Scores his 137th Int’l Goal, Leads Portugal to Nations League Final

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo applauds as he leaves the pitch after being substituted during the Nations League semifinal soccer match between Portugal and Germany at the Munich Football Arena, in Munich, Germany, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo applauds as he leaves the pitch after being substituted during the Nations League semifinal soccer match between Portugal and Germany at the Munich Football Arena, in Munich, Germany, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Cristiano Ronaldo scored the winner as Portugal fought back to beat Germany 2-1 on Wednesday, with the 40-year-old bagging his 137th international goal to send them into the Nations League final.

It was Portugal's first win over Germany since 2000 with Ronaldo's goal earning them a spot in their second Nations League final, after winning the inaugural edition in 2019.

Spain and France will clash in the other semi-final on Thursday to decide who will face Portugal in the decider on Sunday.

Germany dominated the first half, but it remained goalless thanks to the heroics of Portugal keeper Diogo Costa.

The shotstopper made an excellent start to the first half, keeping out a low shot from Germany's Leon Goretzka after four minutes with a strong save.

Costa came to Portugal's rescue again with an incredible save from Nick Woltemade’s close-range effort and two minutes later, he produced another quick reaction stop, diving low to tip away another attempt from Goretzka.

Germany took the lead in the 48th minute, as Florian Wirtz headed in unmarked in the box, following a pinpoint lobbed pass from Joshua Kimmich.

However, Portugal turned the match around, first equalizing through substitute Francisco Conceicao in the 63rd minute, before Ronaldo tapped in five minutes later after Nuno Mendes teed him up.

For Conceicao, the win carried extra significance, as his father Sergio scored a hat-trick the last time Portugal beat Germany - at the European Championship in 2000.

"We need to enjoy the victory – we won for the first time in a while against Germany. Tactically we were exceptional and our commitment helped... it was a team victory," Portugal coach Roberto Martinez said, according to Reuters.

"Now we can recover and evaluate," he added. "We want another performance with personality in this shirt."

Germany looked to shift the momentum when substitute Karim Adeyemi unleashed a powerful rising strike with his left foot, only to see it crash against the outside of Costa’s right-hand post.

Portugal could have grabbed a third goal very late in the match but Germany keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen stretched impressively to perform a double save.

It was a disappointing 100th appearance for Germany captain Kimmich.

"The defeat is absolutely deserved. We weren't playing well enough in the first half. After going 1-0 up, nothing came of it in the second half," he told reporters.

"We have to learn from this. If we're not at 100%, we can't beat a top European team. Today was one of our worst games, purely based on our performance."



Serena Williams to Partner Canada's Victoria Mboko on Competitive Return at Queen's Club

(FILES) US player Serena Williams returns the ball to France's Harmony Tan during their women's singles tennis match on the second day of the 2022 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on June 28, 2022. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)
(FILES) US player Serena Williams returns the ball to France's Harmony Tan during their women's singles tennis match on the second day of the 2022 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on June 28, 2022. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)
TT

Serena Williams to Partner Canada's Victoria Mboko on Competitive Return at Queen's Club

(FILES) US player Serena Williams returns the ball to France's Harmony Tan during their women's singles tennis match on the second day of the 2022 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on June 28, 2022. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)
(FILES) US player Serena Williams returns the ball to France's Harmony Tan during their women's singles tennis match on the second day of the 2022 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on June 28, 2022. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)

Serena Williams will partner Canada's Victoria Mboko in her long-awaited return to professional tennis in the women's doubles at next week's Queen's Club Championships, Mboko confirmed on Thursday.

The 44-year-old Williams, a 23-times Grand Slam winner, has not competed since the 2022 US Open. The American and Mboko, 19, received a wildcard for the doubles draw ⁠at Queen's Club.

"The Queen ⁠is back. An honor to share the court with one of the greatest athletes of all time this week," Mboko, who had hinted about Williams' return after ⁠winning her French Open second-round match, said in a post on Instagram.

"Even more excited to play doubles together! Tennis is pretty special."

Williams announced her return on social media after speculation intensified following her re-entry into the anti-doping testing pool last year, despite previously saying she was "evolving away from tennis.”

Williams ⁠will ⁠take the court in London at the WTA 500 tournament running from June 8 to 14, Reuters reported.

She has won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles alongside her sister Venus and the pair remain undefeated in major finals.

Mboko, who is ranked ninth in singles, also claimed Williams as her "idol" at Roland Garros last week.


Napoli Officially Announces Conte's Departure

(FILES) SSC Napoli head coach Antonio Conte reacts at the end of the Italian Serie A football match between Como and SSC Napoli at the Giuseppe Sinigaglia stadium in Como on May 2, 2026. (Photo by Piero CRUCIATTI / AFP)
(FILES) SSC Napoli head coach Antonio Conte reacts at the end of the Italian Serie A football match between Como and SSC Napoli at the Giuseppe Sinigaglia stadium in Como on May 2, 2026. (Photo by Piero CRUCIATTI / AFP)
TT

Napoli Officially Announces Conte's Departure

(FILES) SSC Napoli head coach Antonio Conte reacts at the end of the Italian Serie A football match between Como and SSC Napoli at the Giuseppe Sinigaglia stadium in Como on May 2, 2026. (Photo by Piero CRUCIATTI / AFP)
(FILES) SSC Napoli head coach Antonio Conte reacts at the end of the Italian Serie A football match between Como and SSC Napoli at the Giuseppe Sinigaglia stadium in Como on May 2, 2026. (Photo by Piero CRUCIATTI / AFP)

Italian Serie A runners-up Napoli confirmed on Thursday that coach Antonio Conte will leave the club after two years with former AC Milan manager Massimiliano Allegri tipped to take over.

"Napoli announces that an agreement has been reached with Antonio Conte and his staff to part ways before the natural expiry of their contracts," AFP quoted the club as saying in a statement.

"We would like to thank the coach and his backroom team for their excellent work. We wish them the very best for the future and the next challenges they will face in their careers.

"Thanks, coach!"

Conte, 56, who guided Napoli to the Serie A title in the 2024/25 campaign, has been widely touted as the favorite to take over as Italy coach.

The former Italy international previously coached the national side between 2014 and 2016, taking them to the Euro 2016 quarter-finals where they lost on penalties to Germany.

Napoli are reported to be in advanced talks with Allegri, 58, who was sacked as AC Milan coach after missing out on next season's Champions League.


Bobby Tambling, Chelsea's Former All-time Leading Goal Scorer, Dies at 84

FILE -Bobby Tambling, is seen on middle row, extreme left as the Chelsea football team pose for a group photograph at Chelsea's Stamford Bridge ground, London, May 12, 1967. (AP Photo/Frank Leonard Tewkesbury, File)
FILE -Bobby Tambling, is seen on middle row, extreme left as the Chelsea football team pose for a group photograph at Chelsea's Stamford Bridge ground, London, May 12, 1967. (AP Photo/Frank Leonard Tewkesbury, File)
TT

Bobby Tambling, Chelsea's Former All-time Leading Goal Scorer, Dies at 84

FILE -Bobby Tambling, is seen on middle row, extreme left as the Chelsea football team pose for a group photograph at Chelsea's Stamford Bridge ground, London, May 12, 1967. (AP Photo/Frank Leonard Tewkesbury, File)
FILE -Bobby Tambling, is seen on middle row, extreme left as the Chelsea football team pose for a group photograph at Chelsea's Stamford Bridge ground, London, May 12, 1967. (AP Photo/Frank Leonard Tewkesbury, File)

Bobby Tambling, the Chelsea great who held the English club’s all-time scoring record for decades, has died. He was 84.

Tambling's death was confirmed Thursday by Chelsea, which didn't disclose more details, as well as Irish soccer club Crosshaven, where he had a spell as manager, The Associated Press reported.

Chelsea described Tambling as “one of our most legendary players” and said “his name is written very large in our history.”

His 202 goals in 370 appearances for Chelsea from 1959-1970 made him the team’s record scorer until 2013, when Frank Lampard surpassed the tally.

Tambling made his Chelsea debut at age 17 in 1959 and was part of the team that won the League Cup in 1965, scoring against Leicester in the final.

His five goals in a single match against Aston Villa in 1966 remains a Chelsea record. He also played for Crystal Palace, and earned three international caps for England.

After settling in Cork, Ireland, Tambling managed Cork Celtic, Cork City and Crosshaven.

Britain's Press Association said Tambling had been diagnosed with dementia in recent years.

“It is with the heaviest of hearts that Crosshaven AFC announce the passing of our dear friend and former manager, Bobby Tambling — a true Chelsea legend and an even more wonderful human being," the team said in a post on X.

“His passion for football was absolutely infectious. Bobby leaves an enormous hole in all our lives. We are all better, kinder, and richer for having known him."