Cristiano Ronaldo lifted the UEFA Nations League trophy high as the cheers of “We Are The Champions” echoed throughout Munich’s stadium on Sunday night. In a thrilling finale, Portugal defeated Spain 5-3 in a nail-biting penalty shootout to claim the coveted title.
The match was intense from the start, with Mikel Oyarzabal giving Spain the lead just before halftime, slotting the ball past Portugal’s goalkeeper Diogo Costa after a clever pass from Pedri. However, Portugal fought back fiercely in the second half.
Ronaldo, ever the talisman, kept Portugal’s hopes alive by equalizing in the 61st minute with his record-extending 138th international goal. After a grueling 120 minutes, the teams remained deadlocked at 2-2, setting the stage for a decisive penalty shootout.
Both teams showcased their nerves of steel as player after player confidently converted their spot-kicks. The turning point came when Portugal’s Diogo Costa saved Alvaro Morata’s penalty, leaving Morata devastated. Rúben Neves stepped up to score Portugal’s fifth penalty, sealing the victory and igniting celebrations among the Portuguese fans.
“It’s a shame and it’s tough, but with time it will be more appreciated,” Oyarzabal reflected after the match. “We struggled more in the second half, we were tired. The substitutions helped them. But we are proud of our team and we will fight to be close to winning a title again.”
Nuno Mendes, the 22-year-old left-back, was a standout performer, not only leveling the score in the 26th minute with a precise low shot but also providing the crucial cross that led to Ronaldo’s equalizer. His efforts kept Spain’s rising star Lamine Yamal in check and culminated in a confident penalty during the shootout.
Ronaldo left the pitch to standing ovations in the 88th minute, exhausted but triumphant. His embrace with coach Roberto Martínez highlighted the significance of the victory. Just days earlier, Ronaldo had led Portugal to their first win over Germany in 25 years.
For Mendes and his Paris Saint-Germain teammates Gonçalo Ramos, João Neves, and Vitinha, this victory marked their second trophy in just over a week after securing the UEFA Champions League title in the same stadium.
Earlier in the day, Kylian Mbappé propelled France to a 2-0 win over host nation Germany in Stuttgart, securing third place. The Real Madrid star notched his 50th goal for France and assisted another, helping Les Bleus overcome a sluggish start.
Despite missing key players like Ousmane Dembélé and Bradley Barcola due to injuries, France coach Didier Deschamps remained pragmatic. “The game is there, we’ll play it,” he said prior to the match, downplaying its significance.
