Ronaldo in tears as he scores international goal 138 before country wins final
Ronaldo in tears as he scores international goal 138 before country wins final
Cristiano Ronaldo helped inspire Portugal to twice came from behind to beat Spain on penalties in the Nations League final.
The footballing icon – who scored the winning goal against Germany in the semi-final – bagged his country’s second equaliser against La Roja to seal a 2-2 draw after 120 minutes.
However, Ronaldo then suffered an injury and had to watch as his teammates edged a dramatic shootout to help him lift his third international title, and second Nations League trophy.
La Roja were the reigning champions after beating Croatia on penalties in 2023, but Alvaro Morata’s miss from 12 yards saw them fail to go back-to-back, following five perfect Portuguese kicks.
Spain had twice taken the lead in the first-half, with Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Oyarzabal scoring either side of a Nuno Mendes strike.
Mendes then turned provider for Ronaldo to level things up after an hour, while he also kept Lamine Yamal quiet for long spells.
Ruben Neves then scored the decisive penalty after Morata’s effort was kept out by Diogo Costa.
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And that’s it from us!
Here’s the image that Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo fans have been waiting for: a second Nations League trophy lift.
Ronaldo failed to contain his emotions after helping Portugal to their third international tournament triumph.
Roberto Martinez’s men beat Spain in a dramatic Nations League final on penalties with the scores level at 2-2 after 120 minutes at the Allianz Arena on Sunday night.
For more coverage, check out talkSPORT.com’sch report below…
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Portugal 2-2 Spain (5-3 Portugal after pens)
Ronaldo recreates the iconic image of his 2019 Nations League trophy lift by giving the silverware another fireman’s lift.
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Portugal 2-2 Spain (5-3 Portugal after pens)
Cristiano Ronaldo’s reaction to the last penalty is some viewing!
He buried his head into former Manchester United teammate Diogo Dalot’s shoulder as Ruben Neves stepped up to take.
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Portugal 2-2 Spain (5-3 Portugal after pens)
Nuno Mendes is deservedly crowned man-of-the-match!
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Portugal 2-2 Spain (5-3 Portugal after pens)
- 2016 EURO’S! 🏆
- 2019 NATIONS LEAGUE! 🏆
- 2025 NATIONS LEAGUE! 🏆
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Portugal 2-2 Spain (5-3 Portugal after pens)
Portugal attempted 7 shots in this game, their lowest total in a single match in the 2024/2025 UEFA Nations League.
Spain attempted 812 passes in this game, their highest total in a single match in the 2024/2025 UEFA Nations League.
Not that it matters at the end of a penalty shootout…
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Portugal 2-2 Spain (5-3 Portugal after pens)
A moment that will haunt Morata – whose spot-kick was at a nice height for Costa to make a flying save.
Interestingly, the Portuguese goalkeeper dived the same way for all four Spanish kicks.
Merino and Baena had both sent him the wrong way, while the warning sign was there after he’d got a hand to Isco’s strike.
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Portugal 2-2 Spain (5-3 Portugal after pens)
More from Townsend: “Spain started this game with so much control.
“Portugal found a way on the pitch and through their manager with his substitutes.
“For those reasons, they thoroughly deserve it.”
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Portugal 2-2 Spain (5-3 Portugal after pens)
Andros Townsend told ITV: “Cristiano Ronaldo played his part tonight. He more than played his part in the semi-final.
“He has proven he can still make a difference at the highest level.”
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PORTUGAL WIN THE NATIONS LEAGUE!!
Ruben Neves sends Unai Simon the wrong way to spark wild scenes for Portugal, and Cristiano Ronaldo is in floods of tears.
It’s a second Nations League title for Roberto Martinez’s men, as Alvaro Morata is inconsolable!
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SAVE! Portugal 2-2 Spain PENALTIES (4-3)
COSTA DENIES MORATA!!!
Desperate moments from the substitute as the much-maligned striker can’t beat Costa from 12 yards.
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GOAL! Portugal 2-2 Spain PENALTIES (4-3)
NUNO MENDES IS PENALTY PERFECT!
Sums up the PSG man’s night, as he drills it into the top corner despite Simon going the right way.
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GOAL! Portugal 2-2 Spain PENALTIES (3-3)
ISCO SCORES…JUST!
Costa guesses early and it’s almost third time lucky as he gets a huge hand to Isco’s effort but he can’t keep it out!
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GOAL! Portugal 2-2 Spain PENALTIES (3-2)
BRUNO FERNANDES PUTS PORTUGAL AHEAD AGAIN!
The Man United captain is unfazed by Simon’s antics on the line as he sends him the wrong way by finding the bottom left corner.
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GOAL! Portugal 2-2 Spain PENALTIES (2-2)
ALEX BAENA SENDS COSTA THE WRONG WAY!
That’s two for two from Spain, into the bottom right corner – with the Portugese goalkeeper diving the other way.
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GOAL! Portugal 2-2 Spain PENALTIES (2-1)
NERVES OF STEEL FROM VITINHA!
The PSG man plays a game of cat and mouse with Simon with his run-up, inching towards the ball.
He then speeds himself up at the last moment, and the Spanish goalkeeper can’t react quickly enough despite diving the right way.
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GOAL! Portugal 2-2 Spain PENALTIES (1-1)
NO MISTAKE FROM MERINO!
The Arsenal man sends Costa the wrong way by drilling it into the far corner to level things up after one penalty each.
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GOAL! Portugal 2-2 Spain PENALTIES (1-0)
RAMOS BLASTS IT DOWN THE MIDDLE!
He gets Portugal off to the perfect start in the absence of Ronaldo – Simon almost saves it with his trailing leg as he dives, but no dice.
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Portugal 2-2 Spain FULL-TIME
There is no winner after an additional 30 minutes – and we will be heading to a penalty shootout.
No Cristiano Ronaldo or Lamine Yamal on the pitch anymore to take one – they’ve just gotta to hope and pray.
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Portugal 2-2 Spain
120′ – Merino’s dinked ball intended for Baena almost releases the defender inside the Portuguese box.
But Costa races off his line to nullify the threat – and it seems like, unless there’s a mistake, we will be set for a penalty shootout.
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Portugal 2-2 Spain
118′ – La Roja won the last Nations League title on penalties, but they’re doing all they can to avoid a shootout this time.
Porro has then chance to stand up several crosses, with Portugal struggling to gain any level of possession.
The Spurs man has sent in a couple in quick succession, intended for Morata, but it’s scrambled away by Dias and then Veiga.
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Portugal 2-2 Spain
116′ – Isco puts in a cross for Spain, but Yeremy Pino heads over. It’s now Spain who are slowly regaining the impetus.#
Andros Townsend told ITV: “Hell of a ball in from Isco. In towards the back post. Pina a few inches too small.
“He couldn’t get over the top of it and head it down.”
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Portugal 2-2 Spain
114′ – Ronaldo, meanwhile, has his head in his hands in prayer as the seconds continue to tick down.
This is surely his final chance at winning the Nations League title.
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Portugal 2-2 Spain
112′ – Yamal is cutting a forlorn figure on the Spanish bench – it’s not often during his career that he has endured a night like this.
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Portugal 2-2 Spain
110′ – From the spectacular to the stupid, as Porro hacks down Leao and instantly picks up a yellow card.
It’s the only way to stop the AC Milan winger at the moment – his manager, Martinez, is also carded for his reaction.
Meanwhile, Spanish goalscorer Oyarzabal is withdrawn for Morata.
Cristiano Ronaldo helped inspire Portugal to twice came from behind to beat Spain on penalties in the Nations League final.
The footballing icon – who scored the winning goal against Germany in the semi-final – bagged his country’s second equaliser against La Roja to seal a 2-2 draw after 120 minutes.
However, Ronaldo then suffered an injury and had to watch as his teammates edged a dramatic shootout to help him lift his third international title, and second Nations League trophy.
La Roja were the reigning champions after beating Croatia on penalties in 2023, but Alvaro Morata’s miss from 12 yards saw them fail to go back-to-back, following five perfect Portuguese kicks.
Spain had twice taken the lead in the first-half, with Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Oyarzabal scoring either side of a Nuno Mendes strike.
Mendes then turned provider for Ronaldo to level things up after an hour, while he also kept Lamine Yamal quiet for long spells.
Ruben Neves then scored the decisive penalty after Morata’s effort was kept out by Diogo Costa.
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Portugal 2-2 Spain
108′ – PORRO GOES FOR THE SPECTACULAR!
The Tottenham defender almost catches out Costa with an audacious effort from just inside the Portugal half!
It causes the Portuguese goalkeeper to back-pedal furiously, but thankfully for him, his shot floats just over the bar.
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Portugal 2-2 Spain
107′ – Speaking of Salah, his Liverpool teammate Diogo Jota has now been sent on to be a late difference-maker for Portugal.
Chelsea’s Pedro Neto is the man withdrawn.
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Portugal 2-2 Spain
106′ – Yamal’s night is over – he’s replaced by Yeremy Pino.
Mark Pougatch reacts by saying on ITV: “He’s not the first person to be in Nuno Mendes’ pocket this season.”
Karen Carney replies: “[Mohamed] Salah, [Bukayo] Saka.”
Spanish football journalist Guillem Balague added: “Lamine Yamal in Nuno Mendes has found his nemesis.”
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Portugal 2-2 Spain HALF-TIME
105′ – No change to the scoreline, and we are just 15 minutes from a potential penalty shootout.
Spain look a shadow of the team that dominated that first-half so long ago, and haven’t been able to live with Portugal.
However, Portugal have failed to seize the initiative by finding that third goal and this one remains so closely in the balance.
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Portugal 2-2 Spain
104′ – Fantastic run from Rafael Leao down the left now, and he just can’t be stopped at the moment.
A recovering challenge from Tottenham’s Porro concedes a corner, which comes to nothing.
However, Leao soon gets back on the ball and is fouled by Yamal, who lets his frustration boil over with a cynical trip.
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Portugal 2-2 Spain
102′ – Andros Townsend told ITV: “Looks to me as if it was one shimmy too many. Nuno Mendes should probably shoot. He miscontrols it.
“I don’t think it’s a penalty as he’s not in control of the ball.”
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Portugal 2-2 Spain
100′ – NO PENALTY!
Mendes looks to be the difference-maker once again as he surges through a crowd of bodies before going down inside the box amid a tangle with Baena.
Portugal’s appeals are waved away, but both sets of players are then involved in a scuffle as tempers flare.
In the aftermath, Baena and Mendes clash, and both get shown a yellow card.
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Portugal 2-2 Spain
99′ – WHAT A CHANCE!
Ruben Dias does well to head away a looping cross, but a follow-up low ball is not properly cleared.
It eventually comes out for Cucurella on the edge of the box, but his touch lets him and makes his second all the more difficult.
He eventually slices the ball over the crossbar.
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Portugal 2-2 Spain
96′ – Andros Townsend told ITV: “This is how Portugal wanted to start the game.
“They wanted to go toe-to-toe with Spain, but they weren’t able to.
“Spain were too superior.”
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Portugal 2-2 Spain
93′ – A surprising and eye-catching double change for Spain – Williams is off for Baena, Mingueza is off for Porro.
The Spanish dugout had the chance to make those tweaks just minutes earlier.
But instead seemed to have pulled the trigger in response to Portugal’s continued live wire threat down the wings.
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Portugal 2-2 Spain
92′ – SEMEDO FLUFFS A SITTER!
It’s one full-back to the other as the dangerous Mendes breezes to the byline before squaring to his opposite number at the near post.
However, Semedo gets his feet caught up and can’t sort himself out before the ball hits him and squirms wide.
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Portugal 2-2 Spain
A quick break before we get restarted for extra-time!
Can we find a winner in 30 minutes before penalties…
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Portugal 2-2 Spain FULL-TIME
Onto 30 minutes added-time we go!
Cristiano Ronaldo’s 138th international goal cancels out Spain’s lead, but the Portugal talisman won’t play any part through injury.
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Portugal 2-2 Spain
90′ – Le Normand sticks out a leg to stop a Leao charge down the left, and Portugal have a late chance to score a winner.
Fernandes goes for goal from a tight angle with a strike towards the far post that Simon confidently punches clear.
Into the final seconds of two minutes added on!
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Portugal 2-2 Spain
88′ – Ronaldo has gone down clutching his lower back with an injury, and it seems like there will be no fairytale winner from him.
PSG’s Ramos is getting readied to come on, as Ronaldo makes the sad trudge off the pitch.
Reminsecent of his injury in the Euro 2016 final, where a Portugal substitute scored the winner in extra-time.
The armband is passed over to Bruno Fernandes.
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Portugal 2-2 Spain
85′ – Veiga acrobatically clears off the line after Oyarzabal had clipped the ball over goalkeeper Costa.
However, his heroics were in vain, as the offside flag then goes up against the Spanish goalscorer.
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Portugal 2-2 Spain
82′ – Costa looks fine to continue, but Portugal do little from the resulting corner as a deep delivery is headed away.
Yamal looks to launch a counter-attack for La Roja, but he’s impeded by Neto, who is shown a yellow card for a cynical trip.
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Portugal 2-2 Spain
80′ – Leao shows his quality by standing up an inviting deep cross that Cucurella has to head behind.
Portugal have to wait to take their corner, however, as their goalkeeper Costa has gone down with an injury at the other end of the pitch.
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Portugal 2-2 Spain
78′ – A big shake-up for the final 15!
Who will win the Nations League?
Or could we be set for extra-time and potentially penalties…
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Portugal 2-2 Spain
76′ – Yamal draws the stop from Costa!
The teenager has largely been kept quiet, especially in this second half, but Mendes stands off him on this occasion.
Yamal needs little invitation to cut inside and look to shoot but his drive is too straight and is sent into Costa’s middle.
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Portugal 2-2 Spain
74′ – Another double change by Martinez, as Leao and Chelsea’s Veiga, who spent the season on loan at Juventus, are both sent on.
A like-for-like change with Leao as Bernando Silva departs, but Inacio, who is on a booking, is the man to make way in defence.
Spain instantly responds with a double switch of their own – Pedri and Fabian Ruiz are replaced by Arsenal’s Merino and Isco.
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Portugal 2-2 Spain
71′ – A sloppy pass out from Portugal gifts possession straight to Yamal, who is fouled from behind by Mendes.
A rare victory in the 1v1 battle with the PSG defender, who is shown a yellow card for his troubles as well. How will that change things?
Either way, it’s Yamal who takes the free-kick, but his attempted cross is headed clear by the first man.
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Portugal 2-2 Spain
69′ – Andros Townsend told ITV: “Nuno Mendes hits it down the line. This is why Cristiano Ronaldo is on the football pitch.
“He is a predator in the box. He knows where the ball is going to go. Good contact when it comes to him.”
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Portugal 2-2 Spain
67′ – Cristiano Ronaldo has scored his eighth goal of the 2024 UEFA Nations League this edition, more than any other Portugal player.
He has also contributed to goals in his last 3 games in the UEFA Nations League (3 goals, 0 assists).
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Portugal 2-2 Spain
65′ – Cristiano Ronaldo has attempted 38 shots, more than any other player in the UEFA Nations League.
However, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner has contributed to goals in his last 5 home games in the Nations League (6 goals, 1 assist).
Cristiano Ronaldo helped inspire Portugal to twice came from behind to beat Spain on penalties in the Nations League final.
The footballing icon – who scored the winning goal against Germany in the semi-final – bagged his country’s second equaliser against La Roja to seal a 2-2 draw after 120 minutes.
However, Ronaldo then suffered an injury and had to watch as his teammates edged a dramatic shootout to help him lift his third international title, and second Nations League trophy.
La Roja were the reigning champions after beating Croatia on penalties in 2023, but Alvaro Morata’s miss from 12 yards saw them fail to go back-to-back, following five perfect Portuguese kicks.
Spain had twice taken the lead in the first-half, with Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Oyarzabal scoring either side of a Nuno Mendes strike.
Mendes then turned provider for Ronaldo to level things up after an hour, while he also kept Lamine Yamal quiet for long spells.
Ruben Neves then scored the decisive penalty after Morata’s effort was kept out by Diogo Costa.
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Portugal 2-2 Spain
63′ – WHAT A BLOCK FROM MENDES!
He is having some game…after having some season!
That’s a goal, an assist, and now a block to save a goal as Spain instantly look to restore their lead for a third time.
It’s Pedri who is teed up inside the box, with the goal at his mercy, but Mendes throws himself at the midfielder’s shot.
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GOAL!! Portugal 2-2 Spain Cristiano Ronaldo
61′ – WHO ELSE?!!?!? GOAL 138 for Portugal!!
Mendes breezes past Yamal to leave the teenager in his dust before racing to the byline and squaring a deflected low cross.
It sails into the air and the flight wrong-foots Cucurella – but not Ronaldo, who reacts quickest to poke it home from close range.
Ronaldo has scored his eighth goal in the 2024/2025 UEFA Nations League. He has now scored in his last 3 games in the competition (3 goals in total), his longest streak in his career.
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Portugal 1-2 Spain
60′ – Andros Townsend told ITV: “Lamine Yamal doesn’t seem to like that foot race match-up with Nuno Mendes.
“In that final third, he goes for it, in that middle third, Yamal seems to be turning back.”
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Portugal 1-2 Spain
58′ – A loose touch from Ronaldo in the middle of the park turns over possession, and allows Spain to get up the pitch.
Fabian Ruiz then Diogo Costa from distance, with a low dipping effort that the Portuguese goalkeeper has to get down low to push away.
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Portugal 1-2 Spain
55′ – Mendes wows the crowd with a brilliant drag-back to leave Yamal for dead before playing his way out of trouble.
His confidence in possession helps get Portugal up the pitch, where a cross from the opposite flank is blocked out for a throw-in.
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Portugal 1-2 Spain
52′ – Neto wastes a spell of Portuguese pressure with a poor cross into the box that is easily claimed by Simon.
However, the press from Martinez’s men has been a lot more organised since half-time.
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NO GOAL! Portugal 1-2 Spain
49′ – BRUNO FERNANDES IS DENIED!
The Manchester United captain believes he’s levelled proceedings for a second time, but the offside flag is instantly raised.
It’s wonderful ingenuity from Fernandes, who catches out Simon at his near post, having opened up his body to bend one.
However, the playmaker had been stood behind the last Spanish defender when the ball had been flicked through.
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Portugal 1-2 Spain
46′ – No changes from La Roja, who are leading, with those two subs causing a slight tweak of shape for Portugal.
Bernardo Silva looks to be the man drifting out wide, with Ruben Neves taking up a spot in the Portuguese midfield.
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Portugal 1-2 Spain
Roberto Martinez brings on Wolves captain Nelson Semedo and former Wolves captain Ruben Neves.
The latter’s namesake, João Neves, departs alongside Francisco Conceicao.
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Portugal 1-2 Spain HALF-TIME
Mikel Oyarzabal has scored his fourth goal in the 2024 UEFA Nations League, a new career high in a single edition of the tournament.
Oyarzabal has scored his fourth goal in the Nations League, netting for the first time since 23rd March 2025 against the Netherlands.
He has contributed to goals in his last 3 games in the UEFA Nations League (3 goals, 2 assists).
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Portugal 1-2 Spain HALF-TIME
An entertaining contest is paused for the break, after three goals in the first 45 minutes in Munich.
Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Oyarzabal, on either side of Nuno Mendes’ strike, have La Roja on course for Nations League glory.
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GOAL!! Portugal 1-2 Spain Mikel Oyarzabal
44′ – LA ROJA RETAKE THE LEAD IN CONTROVERSIAL FASHION!
Just before halftime, Oyarzabal brilliantly restores Spain’s advantage, but Portugal are adamant Silva has been fouled in the build-up.
Man City star Silva goes down under pressure from behind, but his appeals for a shove in the back are ignored as Spain play on.
Pedri then drives forward and releases Oyarzabal inside the box, who reverses his finish across Simon with the deftest of touches.
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Portugal 1-1 Spain
42′ – There’s been plenty of fiesty niggly fouls without it being nasty – but there’s definitely some tension between these two sides.
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Portugal 1-1 Spain
39′ – Cucurella continues to be hissed and booed with every touch he takes, and attempts to counter by playing quick one-touch passes.
A great cheer goes up when Conceicao hits him late from behind to leave him on the deck, but the Portuguese avoids a booking.
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Portugal 1-1 Spain
36′ – Neto shows his blistering pace with a darting run to the byline before he stands up a cross.
Simon has to watch as it lands on the roof of his net, having threatened to drop just inside the crossbar.
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Portugal 1-1 Spain
33′ – Nico Williams wins a corner for Spain off João Neves, which allows Pedri to stand up a promising delivery.
Portugal look uncomfortable defensively, but it just won’t land for a Spain player in the box and is scrambled away.
Neto leads a counter for Portugal and draws a foul from Ruiz, who is shown a yellow card.
Fernandes takes a wasteful free-kick, however, with his overhit delivery sailing out of play.
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Portugal 1-1 Spain
30′ – Andros Townsend told ITV: “Initially, good work from Cristiano Ronaldo.
“You think they’re going to work it wide, and he lays it off to Pedro Neto.
“Hovering Nuno Mendes. That’s a hammer. Low and hard into the far corner. There is no saving that!”
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Portugal 1-1 Spain
28′ – Nuno Mendes has contributed to goals in his last 3 games in the Nations League – one goal and two assists.
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Portugal 1-1 Spain
26′ – There was a question mark of offside in the build-up against Ronaldo, with suggestions it happened too early to be chalked off.
After several minutes, the goal is allowed to stand, with VAR proving Ronaldo was onside anyway, rendering Spanish complaints moot.
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GOAL! Portugal 1-1 Spain Nuno Mendes
24′ – THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE WINNER FIRES PORTUGAL LEVEL!!
It’s good work initially by Ronaldo, who springs the offside trap to be released in behind the Spanish backline.
He waits for his teammate to catch up before working it wide to Chelsea’s Neto, who then finds Mendes inside.
The PSG defender brilliantly takes it on his own, bursting into the box before firing into the far bottom corner.
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Portugal 0-1 Spain
Spain have avoided defeat in their last 13 matches when scoring first in the Nations League, since a 1-2 loss to France on 10th October 2021.
Portugal have a record of W2, D0, L1 when conceding the opening goal in the 2024/2025 UEFA Nations League.
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GOAL!! Portugal 0-1 Spain Martin Zubimendi
20′ – SPAIN STRIKE FIRST IN THE NATIONS LEAGUE FINAL!!
Oyarzabal’s brilliant back flick takes Inacio out of the game as Spain’s latest counter-attack finally comes up trumps.
Yamal takes over and his cross causes an almighty scrap inside the Portugal box, before falling kindly for Zubimendi to tap home.
Zubimendi has scored his second goal in the Nations League, netting for the first time since 12th October 2024 against Denmark.
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Portugal 0-0 Spain
18′ – Williams fires wide of the far corner!
Spain are really starting to warm up now, and that attack down the left once again proves Portugal’s undoing.
Williams cuts inside dangerously this time and whips a bending effort that has Costa beaten but can’t sneak inside the top corner.
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Portugal 0-0 Spain
15′ – PEDRI MISSES A SITTER!
Spain cut open Portugal with a sweeping counter-attack down the left, it’s pulled back by Williams inside the area for Pedri’s run.
The Barcelona midfielder has the time and space to open up his body and attempt to guide his shot into the far corner, but he pulls it wide.
Portugal 0-0 Spain
13′ – Yamal blazes over!
The teenager once again demonstrates his confidence in both himself and his more senior teammates by stepping up to take.
But on this occasion, he can’t whip his left-foot around and instead sends a delivery high into the stands.
Cristiano Ronaldo helped inspire Portugal to twice came from behind to beat Spain on penalties in the Nations League final.
The footballing icon – who scored the winning goal against Germany in the semi-final – bagged his country’s second equaliser against La Roja to seal a 2-2 draw after 120 minutes.
However, Ronaldo then suffered an injury and had to watch as his teammates edged a dramatic shootout to help him lift his third international title, and second Nations League trophy.
La Roja were the reigning champions after beating Croatia on penalties in 2023, but Alvaro Morata’s miss from 12 yards saw them fail to go back-to-back, following five perfect Portuguese kicks.
Spain had twice taken the lead in the first-half, with Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Oyarzabal scoring either side of a Nuno Mendes strike.
Mendes then turned provider for Ronaldo to level things up after an hour, while he also kept Lamine Yamal quiet for long spells.
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Ruben Neves then scored the decisive penalty after Morata’s effort was kept out by Diogo Costa.
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Portugal 0-0 Spain
11′ – Yamal drifts and dances his way between several defenders before being tripped on the edge of the box.
Andros Townsend told ITV: “Spain are happy in these situations.
“They’re looking to drag men out of their positions.
“It’s fascinating to watch.”
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Portugal 0-0 Spain
9′ – Ronaldo presses Spanish goalkeeper Simon into playing the ball out of play.
The 40-year-old surprising fans with his early work rate off-the-ball.
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Portugal 0-0 Spain
6′ – NEVES FIRES WIDE!
Ronaldo drops deep to win possession back from Yamal before setting Neto down the left, who wins the first corner of the night.
The set-piece is taken short and it catches out Spain, Fernandes crossing to the back post for Silva.
He tees up Neves inside the box, but the latter’s bouncing half-volley bounces wide of the far post.
Credit: AFP
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Portugal 0-0 Spain
4′ – There’s already been some bite to proceedings, with Cucurella shoving Conceicao off the ball.
Yamal soon gets on the ball for the first time with a diagonal dribble but is swiftly dispossessed.
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Portugal 0-0 Spain KICK-OFF
1′ – We are underway in Munich.
One of these two teams will be crowned two-time Nations League winners by the end of this contest.
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‘Nations League will be valued increasingly as time goes by’
Spain boss Luis de la Fuente: “We know how tough this competition was from the beginning, supported by data.
“You don’t always come up against such good teams. Four of the best five teams in Europe are here.
“This is a super-tough competition, very demanding, a lot of prestige, and it will be valued increasingly as time goes by.”
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‘It will come down to who wants it more’
Portugal defender Ruben Dias told Uefa: “I want to win the final, regardless of who we are facing.
To reach a final, you have to be very good, and if you want to be the best, you have to beat the best.
“For me, though, it’s nothing more than a final that I want to win.
With all due respect to the team we’re playing against.
“At the end of the day, it will come down to who wants it more.
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Both teams are very good, but in these sorts of moments, I think it comes down to who wants it more – and we really want to win this final.”
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Teams out to warm up
Both Portugal and Spain usually wear red, but it is Cristiano Ronaldo and Co. who will don their home strip, with La Roja in yellow instead.
Credit: Getty
Credit: Getty
France beat Germany reaction
Germany captain Joshua Kimmich told RTL: “We should have been leading 3-0 after six minutes.
“Then we went into the break a goal behind.
“We lost patience too early and lost our structure in the second half.
We made too many mistakes and gave them what they wanted.”
Les Bleus boss Didier Deschamps added: “Mike [Maignan] was a fantastic last line of defence and he kept us in it at the start.
“I thought the scoreline at half-time against Spain [2-0] was incredibly severe.
I’m not going to sit here and lie to you and say that we deserved to go into half-time today in the lead, but it allowed us to go on and become better.”
Credit: Getty
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Mbappe stars as France beat Germany 2-0
Kylian Mbappe became just the third player to bring up 50 goals for France – and he’s done it in record time.
The 26-year-old broke the deadlock in Les Bleus’ Nations League third-place play-off clash against Germany on Sunday afternoon.
A late goal from substitute Michael Olise sealed the result, but his captain, Mbappe, stole the headlines.
The Real Madrid star, who made his France senior debut as an 18-year-old in 2017, has reached the milestone in just 90 caps.
He has followed in the footsteps of ex-Arsenal centre-forwards Olivier Giroud and Thierry Henry in scoring at least 50 times for France.
Henry had been the record holder in reaching 50 goals for France in the quickest time.
The 1998 World Cup winner brought up the landmark strike on his 113th appearance against Serbia in September in 2009.
Portugal vs Spain
Portugal and Spain have both made two changes each from their wins in the Nations League semi-finals.
Champions League winner Vitinha replaces Ruben Neves in Portugal’s midfield.
Meanwhile, his Paris Saint-Germain team-mate Fabian Ruiz steps in for Arsenal’s Mikel Merino for Spain after only being used as a sub against France.
Francisco Conceicao, who scored against Germany as a substitute, fully replaces the man he came on for, Trincao.
And Tottenham’s Pedro Porro is axed in place of Oscar Mingueza.
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Portugal vs Spain: Team news in full
Portugal XI: Costa; Nuno Mendes, Inacio, Dias, Neves; Vitinha, Fernandes, Silva; Conceicao, Neto, Ronaldo
Subs: José Sá, Rui Silva, Nélson Semedo, António Silva, Dalot, João Palhinha, Gonçalo Ramos, João Félix, Renato Veiga, Francisco Trincão, Rafael Leão, Rúben Neves, Pedro Gonçalves, Diogo Jota, Rodrigo Mora
Spain XI (4-3-3): Simon; Cucurella, Huijsen, Le Normand, Mingueza; Fabian, Pedri, Zubimendi; N. Williams, Oyarzabal, Yamal
Subs: Raya, Remiro, Pedro Porro, Cubarsí, Vivian, Merino, Morata, Gavi, Olmo, Pino, Álex Baena, Grimaldo, Isco, Fermín López, Samu
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Teenage kicks
Lamine Yamal scored two goals as Spain survived a late scare to beat France 5-4 in their Nations League A semi-final.
The Barcelona wonderkid carried his excellent 2024/25 season club form into the summer on just his 20th international appearance.
Nico Williams and Mikel Merino scored first-half goals before a Yamal penalty had Euro 2024 champions Spain cruising on 54 minutes.
A fourth goal from Pedri was followed by a spot-kick by Kylian Mbappe as France were swept aside.
Yamal inflicted the fifth blow moments after the hour mark when he fired a low shot into Les Bleus’ goal.
The match was the first in 56 years to have France concede five goals.
England were the last team to score that many goals against them in a 5-0 win in March 1969.
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Head-to-head
La Roja won the last instalment of the Iberian Derby 1-0 to extend their domination lead overall.
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Spain wins: 17
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Portugal wins: 6
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Draws: 17
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De La Fuente: Yamal is special
Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente on Lamine Yamal: “Lamine Yamal is a very young boy, but with a maturity that is not typical of his age.
“He is living this moment with peace of mind, and we want it to continue being that way, supporting him at all times.”
On the Nations League: “We knew how tough this competition would be from the very beginning.
There are very powerful teams, four of the five best in Europe.”
On Portugal: “Portugal is a very powerful team, you just have to look at the quality of the players in the squad.
“We have a similar footballing idea, but we will try to surprise them and control the game.”
Credit: Getty
Roberto Martinez: Spain are good but not perfect
Portugal head coach Robert Martinez on the semi-final: “The starting eleven played a fantastic game, with control and then the three who came on gave us what we wanted: to reach the final third more, to control Germany’s game more.
“We played a good game from minute zero to the last, but different.
Getting to the goal more in the second half was the objective and that’s what we work on, having players with different skills, creating connections during the game.”
On Spain’s weaknesses: “Spain is not Germany, it has the details of the best team in the world but there are no perfect teams.
“We’re going up against a team that is the European champion, won the Nations League, with a coach who created a club atmosphere.
I don’t see any negative aspects, I see that in football every team has strengths and weaknesses.”
On conflict of interest as he faces Spain: “There is a sentimental aspect, of course, I am Spanish, but that is a conversation to have with my grandchildren in 10, 15 years.
“The focus is on winning the final.
Normality and working well to prepare for the game of a final that will be the fourth in Portugal’s history. Because of this responsibility, we have to give our best.”
Credit: Getty
Hello and welcome!
Eras collide in the Nations League final as Cristiano Ronaldo faces Lamine Yamal as Portugal battle Spain.
“Lamine Yamal is doing very well, he is taking full advantage of his talent,” Ronaldo said this week.
“Now let the kid grow and don’t put too much pressure on him.
“Let him be and let him grow well, take the pressure off him. He has no shortage of talent.”
He added: “The individual awards have lost some consensus; I can’t say anything about who should win.
In my opinion, those who stand out and win the Champions League should win. But there is no consensus.
“I don’t believe much in individual awards because I know what goes on behind the scenes.
Lamine could win, like Dembele or Vitinha, other emerging players… But individual awards are irrelevant.”
Credit: Getty
