When it mattered most, Cristiano Ronaldo again inspired Portugal to become the first two-time champions of the UEFA Nations League on Sunday, defeating Spain, the reigning European champion, in the tournament’s final.
Portugal came from behind twice to equalise against Spain, taking the game into a penalty shootout during which they won 5-3 after a 2-2 draw at regulation time at the Allianz Arena.
Reigning European champions Spain are the Nations League holders following their 2023 final victory over Croatia on penalties. It was La Roja’s third appearance in the final, having been beaten 2-1 by France in 2021. They avenged that defeat with a remarkable 5-4 semifinal triumph this week, Lamine Yamal netting a second-half brace before Les Bleus launched a stunning comeback attempt from 5-1 down.
Portugal won the inaugural event on home soil back in 2019 and are back in the showpiece match after coming from behind to beat Germany 2-1 in the semifinals. At the final on Sunday, Cristiano Ronaldo’s 138th international goal proved decisive.
Captain Cristiano Ronaldo was in tears of delight at the end. He had been forced to watch the decisive moment from the sidelines after going off injured, but played his part in an enthralling contest, scoring Portugal’s second.
On a night where 17-year-old prodigy Lamine Yamal was largely shackled by the excellent Nuno Mendes, who set up that Ronaldo goal and scored his side’s other equaliser, it was Roberto Martinez’s men who emerged victorious, adding to their 2019 triumph in this competition.
Ruben Neves applied the finishing touch to the victory, slamming in his penalty after Morata had been denied sparking emotional celebrations in the Allianz Arena in Munich.
With the World Cup just 12 months away, these two sides will be dreaming of another showdown in North America. And the quality in both squads, also demonstrated in semi-final wins over Germany and France, suggests they will be major contenders for that title too.
The spot-kicks came at the end of an intriguing final which began with Spain on top. After Pedri and Nico Williams went close, Arsenal transfer target Martin Zubimendi gave them a deserved lead on 21 minutes. His carries up the pitch were a feature throughout the game and this one saw him eventually pick up the pieces from Yamal’s cross to finish the move he had started.
This game had been billed as a face-off between young talent Yamal and the old master Ronaldo, and the Portugal captain was involved in the equaliser which swiftly came at the other end, emerging the right side of a tight offside check to feed Pedro Neto, who in turn teed up Mendes for a thunderbolt into the bottom corner.
But Spain had the advantage at the break, with Mikel Oyarzabal – the match winner for them in the Euros final with England last summer – applying a cute finish to a gorgeous through ball from Pedri on the stroke of half-time.
There was a double change from Portugal at the break as they tried to shift the momentum, and they did just that. Bruno Fernandes hit the net just moments into the second period but was denied by an offside flag on Neto earlier in the move. On the hour mark, Portugal’s improvement paid off, though. And it just had to be him.
Forty-year-old Ronaldo was perfectly placed to volley in Mendes’ deflected cross and soaked up the adulation for his 138th goal for his country.
The forward limped off just before the end of normal time, but he was not the only one feeling the pace as the game, so fast and feisty in its early stages, became a tense, tight affair.
Diogo Jota had the best of the chances in added time, heading over from close range. But no matter, Portugal were crowned soon after with their shoot-out success.
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