Cristiano Ronaldo led Portugal to a dramatic Nations League triumph after a tense 5-3 penalty shootout win over Spain in Munich, following a 2-2 draw in regulation and extra time. The final saw the veteran striker score his 138th international goal, keeping Portugal’s hopes alive and forcing a shootout that ended in emotional scenes as he left the pitch in tears.
Spain came into the final riding high after a thrilling 5-4 semi-final win over France and boasting an unbeaten record since March 2023. That momentum showed early when Martin Zubimendi opened the scoring in the 21st minute with his second international goal. But Portugal responded quickly. Nuno Mendes leveled the game after sharp work by Ronaldo on the left flank created the opportunity.
Spain pulled ahead once more thanks to a clever through ball from Pedri that allowed Mikel Oyarzabal to score just before halftime. Oyarzabal, who previously scored the winner in the last European Championship final against England, looked sharp once again. However, Portugal refused to back down.
The second half saw the experience of Ronaldo shine. Despite Spain’s attempts to dominate possession, Portugal stayed in the game, and Ronaldo found the net again from close range just after the hour mark, making it 2-2.
A major storyline of the match was the contrast between the legendary Ronaldo and Spain’s rising star Lamine Yamal. While Yamal had limited impact on the game, Ronaldo proved decisive until he was forced off with an injury late in the match.
With neither side able to break the deadlock in extra time, the match was decided from the spot. Portugal converted all five of their penalties, while a miss by Spain’s Alvaro Morata handed the advantage to Portugal. Ruben Neves stepped up and sealed the win with the final kick, sparking celebration among fans and teammates.
Portugal’s victory marks their second Nations League title, highlighting a blend of veteran leadership and strong team performance.
By Yockshard Enyendi