Portugal Wins UEFA Nations League Over Spain on Penalties

Cristiano Ronaldo led Portugal to victory in the 2025 UEFA Nations League final against Spain, scoring his 138th international goal to level the match at 2-2 before Portugal won 5-3 on penalties. Despite being substituted late in the game due to a muscle strain, Ronaldo celebrated passionately, shedding tears of joy as he lifted his third major international trophy after Euro 2016 and the 2019 Nations League. The final was marked by Portugal's resilience, coming back twice after Spain took the lead, with key contributions from Nuno Mendes, who was named Man of the Match for both his defensive efforts against Spain's young star Lamine Yamal and his role in the attack. The penalty shootout saw Diogo Costa save Álvaro Morata's attempt, allowing Rúben Neves to score the winning penalty for Portugal. Ronaldo expressed that winning for his country is more meaningful than club achievements, highlighting the pride he feels as captain of the national team. Meanwhile, Yamal, though disappointed, is expected to have a promising future, and the Nations League final served as a symbolic passing of the torch between generations.