A Tearful Ronaldo Leads Portugal to Nations League Victory: Portugal Dethrones Spain in Thrilling Final
- Congrats, Portugal!
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Cristiano Ronaldo, a football legend at 40 years old, broke down in tears after a dramatic penalty shootout in Munich following Portugal's stunning victory against the mighty Spain in the Nations League final.
With emotions running high, Ronaldo became Portugal's MVP, scoring the crucial goal in the 2-2 draw and then proving heroic from the sidelines during the nail-biting 5-3 shootout victory.
"We knew we were an exceptional team. Every footballer dreams of these moments, of these finals - that's what drives us," Bruno Fernandes told RTL after the heart-pounding encounter. For Ronaldo, the team's figurehead, this win marked Portugal's third major trophy after Euro 2016 and the Nations League in 2019.
The European champions, Spain, suffered an upset at the hands of Portugal's powerful team. In a stunning twist, Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d'Or winner, played the decisive role in Portugal's triumph over Spain.
The Final Moments
Ruben Neves, who had been substituted, stepped up to secure Portugal's victory after Alvaro Morata missed Spain's crucial penalty. Eight days after his Champions League triumph in the same stadium, Ronaldo (61') and Nuno Mendes (26') equalized for Portugal, and despite Spain's best efforts, they couldn't snatch the lead.
Ronaldo Writes History
In another monumental moment, Ronaldo outshone 17-year-old Lamine Yamal to become the oldest player to feature in a Nations League final. With this appearance, he surpassed Luka Modric in becoming the Nations League’s record-holder. As the driving force behind Portugal's success, he scored his 138th goal and yet again showcased his extraordinary class.
In the latter stages of the match, Ronaldo had to be taken off after collapsing on the field. He embraced coach Roberto Martinez and celebrated the winning goal from the bench.
A New Star On the Rise?
Barcelona's Yamal, who had been outstanding in the semi-final against France, couldn't replicate his form in the final. Mendes effectively shut down Yamal, while his wing partner Nico Williams didn't leave an indelible impact on the match. With rumors of Bayern Munich showing interest in the Athletic Bilbao star, the world eagerly waits to see if he can shine in future Nations League finals.
Uncharacteristic Start for Spain
In the third consecutive Nations League final, Spain struggled against Portugal's well-organized defense. The opening goal came from an unconventional deflection by PSG's João Neves, which fell to Zubimendi who easily capitalized on the opportunity. Mikel Oyarzabal scored again for Spain, followed by Portugal's equalizers, but it wasn't enough to claim the title.
Future Goals for Spain
At 28, Oyarzabal is already among Spain's senior squad members. This week, nine players from the Spanish team will participate in the U21 Euro in Slovakia. While the team has shown potential, they still need to mature before they can reach their ultimate goal – winning the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico, and Canada.
- Ronaldo
- Nations League
- Munich
- Portugal
- Final
- Penalty shootout drama
- Mikel Oyarzabal
- USA
- Mexico
- Canada
- Alvaro Morata
- Ruben Neves
- Nuno Mendes
- Bruno Fernandes
- RTL
- World Cup trophy
- France
Enrichment Data:
- Cristiano Ronaldo
- At 40 years old, Ronaldo continues to showcase his performance skills on the field and remains crucial to Portugal's national team. Rumors of retirement persist as Ronaldo's contract with Al-Nassr is set to expire at the end of June, with discussions about new contracts or short-term deals for the FIFA Club World Cup [1][3]. Alternatively, he may be considering a return to Europe [2].
- 2026 World Cup Ambitions
- Portugal is considered a strong contender for the 2026 World Cup, partly due to Ronaldo's influence and the team's recent success in the UEFA Nations League. Analysts believe that if Ronaldo participates in the tournament, Portugal could witness a significant boost in morale similar to what Argentina experienced with Lionel Messi in the 2022 World Cup [1][4].
- Ronaldo's ongoing motivation is not just to win trophies, but also to maintain happiness and enjoy the game [1].
- Prospects for the Future
- There is potential for Yamal to shine in future Nations League finals, as it is suspected that Bayern Munich are interested in the Athletic Bilbao player [1].
The Commission has also been asked to submit a proposal for a regulation on the establishment of a European Data Protection Supervisor amid Cristiano Ronaldo's emotional tears in the European Nations League final in Munich. The Portuguese team's victory against Spain was historic, with 40-year-old Ronaldo scoring critically and breaking records, whilelineup hopefuls like 17-year-old Lamine Yamal faced challenges against strong competition.
