A Final Defined by Defense and Drama
It was billed as Cristiano Ronaldo vs. Lamine Yamal—a passing of the torch from one icon to the next—but when Portugal and Spain deadlocked at 2-2 in Munich, both superstars watched as others took control. After a tense penalty shootout, Portugal prevailed 5-3, thanks to goalkeeper Diogo Costa’s save from Álvaro Morata and Rúben Neves’s decisive spot-kick.
Ronaldo opened the scoring in the second half with his 138th international goal, volleying home a looping cross, but departed in the 88th minute with a muscle strain. Yamal, wearing a heavy substitutes’ coat, delivered the early assist for Martín Zubimendi’s opener but otherwise struggled to influence the game.
Nuno Mendes Takes Center Stage
Portugal’s left back Nuno Mendes was the outstanding performer on the night. Fresh from a Champions League victory with Paris Saint-Germain just a week earlier, Mendes:
- Scored Portugal’s first goal with a well-timed run and finish.
- Dominated his duel with Yamal, repeatedly beating him on the flank.
- Delivered the cross for Ronaldo’s equalizer, underlining his attacking threat.
- Held his nerve in the shootout, converting an “exceptional” penalty before lifting the trophy.
His full-back mastery demonstrated why he is one of Europe’s most exciting young talents, balancing defensive solidity with incisive forward play.
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Midfield Battles and Supporting Cast
Beyond Mendes, Portugal’s midfield trio also impressed:
- Bruno Fernandes controlled tempo and created chances.
- Vitinha maintained composure, mirroring his recent club form against Inter Milan.
Spain, too, showed depth:
- Martín Zubimendi struck first with a composed finish and excelled in a holding role.
- Pedri orchestrated play from midfield, threading passes that unlocked Portugal’s defense.
- Mikel Oyarzabal delivered a clinical strike on the stroke of halftime to give Spain a 2-1 lead.
Defensively, Robin Le Normand and Dean Huijsen stood out for Spain, while Rúben Dias anchored Portugal’s backline. Goalkeepers Unai Simón and Diogo Costa matched each other save for save, proving their world-class pedigree.
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What This Means for Portugal and Spain
With this win, Portugal claim their second Nations League title and add to Ronaldo’s remarkable haul of international trophies—including Euro 2016. Despite his age, Ronaldo showed he can still deliver on football’s biggest stages and will head into the 2026 World Cup with confidence.
Yamal, just 17 and already a Euros winner, will learn from this defeat. Spain’s young starlet will likely collect many more trophies if his near-faultless career trajectory continues.
Both nations demonstrated depth beyond their marquee names. As they prepare for the UEFA Nations League schedule, this final proved that Portugal and Spain can support their superstars all the way to future glory—whether in Spain vs. Portugal 2025 encounters or at the World Cup.
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