A quick survey among all European football players would reveal that UEFA’s Nations League is just another competition which brings more money to the European’s main governing body but also more games and tiredness to the players already overwhelmed by the tight schedule. But still, when Ruben Neves scored the winning penalty after 120 minutes of battle between Portugal and Spain, Cristiano Ronaldo fell on the ground and started to cry. The 40 years old football magician already won the competition back in 2019, but he still wants to win everything there is, and if possible, to win it multiple times. He was still 100% and all in for the win against Spain, a team which until tonight had 19 undefeated matches in a row and he made it.— 40 yaşında finale çıktı.— Golünü attı, kariyerinin 36. kupasını aldı.— Dünyanın en çok gol atan ismi.— Milli takımlarda en çok gol atan isim.Cristiano Ronaldo. 🐐pic.twitter.com/YO5y3eMYlF— Yeni Journal (@yenijournal) June 8, 2025 Ronaldo was among the scorers in a game which ended 2-2 in regular time and was finished in the penalty shootout. His country became the first country to win this UEFA competition twice and they did it against the strongest team in Europe, until tonight. Portugal proved that they were the most eager team to win this competition. They were losing 1-0 against hosts Germany in the semi-finals but won 2-1 in the end. They were losing twice tonight but came back both times and eventually keeper Diogo Costa saved a penalty against experienced Alvaro Morata.Martin Zubimendi scored the first goal for Spain giving Spain the lead (0-1)pic.twitter.com/tgen5FEuuv— Dennoh (@CFC_dennoh) June 8, 2025 Nuno Mendes scored the first goal for Portugal equalizing the scores (1-1)Pedro Neto assist. pic.twitter.com/cuxEI5WlIi— Dennoh (@CFC_dennoh) June 8, 2025 The first half was exciting and full of goals, as we expected from two such high-quality teams. This was by no means a tactical battle in which two teams nullified each other by quality. There were few chances but we saw three goals, which means both teams used their opportunities to score. Joao Neves nearly scored after just five minutes and it was the best chance which hasn’t resulted in a goal. PSG midfielder got a good ball from Bernardo Silva but his shot was hit beyond the far post. The next chance came from Spain and they scored. The scorer Zubimendi started the chance and with poor communication between Neves and keeper Diogo Costa, he easily put the ball into the net from close range. After just five minutes, Neto found the onrushing Nuno Mendes and the PSG full back unleased a fierce shot into the bottom corner on the far side. But Spain struck again in the 45th minute, when Oyarzabal found the net (his fourth goal in the last eight matches) and Spain was in the lead for the second time.GOAL | Spain 2-1 Portugal | OyarzabalOYARZABAL HAS GIVEN SPAIN THE LEAD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PEDRI WITH THE ASSIST !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!pic.twitter.com/5tHYE50vpD— Kinlop🦅 (@kinlop_) June 8, 2025 The second half started with Portugal’s equalizer, but Bruno Fernandes’s goal was ruled out due to offside. Nothing happened for the next 15 minutes before Nuno Mendes made a fantastic move and passed Lamine Yamal before crossing the ball. Cristiano Ronaldo was there to tap in for the second equalizer in the 65th minute. After that, the intensity of the game just went down and Isco woke up the fans with a fantastic and powerful shot in the 85th minute, which Costa nearly saved. With such high intensity and running from both teams, it was quite expected that the overtime didn’t bring in any excitement so the penalty shootout was inevitable. All the penalty takers were precise apart from Alvaro Morata, who came in just before the end, clearly in order to bring calmness and score a goal, and he failed.UEFA NATIONS LEAGUEThird-place gameSunday Germany – France 0-2 (0-1)/Mbappe 45, Olise 84/FinalSunday Portugal – Spain 2-2 (1-2) 5-3 AP/Mendes 26, Ronaldo 61, Zubimendi 21, Oyarzabal 45/
