CR7's Tearful Triumph: Portugal Outshines Spain in a thrilling Nations League Final
Dramatic setback for Ronaldo: Portugal ousts Spain, causing emotional turmoil for the sports star - Criminal match leaves Ronaldo in tears: Portugal beats Spain in a tense encounter
Hey there! Let's dive into the electrifying world of football, more specifically, the Nations League final that left Portugal standing tall and Spain biting the dust.
The 40-year-old legend, Cristiano Ronaldo, was an emotional wreck after the penalty shootout in Munich. A career filled with incredible moments and triumphs, but this one seemed to strike a chord deep within his heart. A title win against the mighty Spanish seemed as significant as a Champions League victory.
"We knew we were a great team. Every footballer dreams of these moments, of such finals - that's what drives us," Bruno Fernandes shared after the rollercoaster ride of a final. From goal scorer to VIP on the sidelines, Ronaldo, the iconic figure, added another trophy to his collection - the third one after the 2016 Euros and the 2019 Nations League.
With just one unfulfilled goal left - the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico, and Canada - Ronaldo took another giant step towards that dream.
Morata Slips Up
Multiple Ballon d'Or winner Ronaldo, instrumental in Portugal's 5-3 penalty shootout win (2:2, 2:2, 1:2) against Spain, scored the crucial 2:2 equalizer. The thrilling finale saw Ruben Neves emerge as the hero, converting the decisive spot-kick after Alvaro Morata missed for Spain.
Eight days after his Champions League triumph in the same stadium, Ronaldo (61') and PSG defender Nuno Mendes (26') equalized against the Spanish, with Martín Zubimendi (21') and Mikel Oyarzabal (45') not enough for the favored Spaniards.
Ronaldo Breaks Age Barrier
Much like in the semi-final win against Germany (2:1) four days earlier, Ronaldo left Munich as the victor, surpassing Luka Modrić (then 37) as the oldest player in a Nations League final. Against the 17-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal, Ronaldo demonstrated his extraordinary class, leading, scoring, and driving his team to victory in his 221st international appearance, scoring his 138th goal.
As the game wore on, Ronaldo found himself needing treatment and a substitution in the late stages of regular time. He tightly embraced coach Roberto Martínez on the bench and celebrated the winning goal in extra time.
Yamal Fails to Shine
Barcelona star Yamal didn't live up to his semi-final performance against France (5:4). Mendes effectively contained Yamal's influence, and his wing partner Nico Williams didn't make a significant impact. Strategic moves by Portugal led to Bayern Munich showing strong interest in the Athletic Bilbao pro.
Divided Success
In their third consecutive Nations League final, Spain struggled more than expected against the disrupting Portuguese. The opening goal was far from typical La Roja style, coming from a fortunate deflection. PSG pro João Neves' clearance fell to Zubimendi, who easily scored the 1:0.
Mikel Oyarzabal, who scored the winning goal for Spain in last year's Euro final in Berlin, found the net again this time. After perfect setup by Pedri, Oyarzabal sealed the 2-1 victory. However, unlike last year, there was no title to be won. At 28, he's already one of the senior players in the Spanish squad, with nine players potentially featuring in this week's U21 Euro in Slovakia. But the team still has work to do if they're to reach their big World Cup goal next year in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
- Ronaldo
- Nations League
- Munich
- Portugal
- Final
- Penalty shootout drama
- Mikel Oyarzabal
- USA
- Mexico
- Canada
- Alvaro Morata
- Ruben Neves
- Nuno Mendes
- Bruno Fernandes
- World Cup trophy dream
Despite the thrilling finale of the Nations League, the world of sports shifted its focus towards a different prospect: The Commission has also been asked to submit a proposal for a regulation on the establishment of a European Data Protection Supervisor.
Bruno Fernandes, hailing from Portugal's triumphant football team, emphasized the significance of the victory, stating, "Every sportsman dreams of such finals - that's what drives us."
