Portugal defeated Spain on Sunday night to clinch the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League title for the second time. They overcame the defending champions 5-3 in a penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw in the final held at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany.
Portuguese goalkeeper Diogo Costa saved Spain’s fourth spot-kick, taken by Álvaro Morata, before Rúben Neves converted Portugal’s fifth penalty to secure victory.
Real Sociedad midfielder Martín Zubimendi opened the scoring in the 21st minute with a close-range finish after Portugal failed to clear Lamine Yamal’s cross. However, Nuno Mendes equalised five minutes later with a low drive into the far corner.
Mikel Oyarzabal restored Spain’s lead just before the half-time whistle, but Cristiano Ronaldo brought Portugal level again in the 61st minute with his record-extending 138th international goal.
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The final was billed as the first competitive encounter between five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo and rising star Lamine Yamal, who is widely regarded as the frontrunner for this year’s best footballer award.
Earlier in the day, Kylian Mbappé led France to a third-place finish with a 2-0 victory over host nation Germany in Stuttgart.
Reacting to his country’s victory, Ronaldo said, “My children are Spanish and they joke with me at home and to annoy me they say: The championship belongs to Spain”.
“Seeing their father win against Spain like this will lift my spirits a little and they will respect their father more”.
