PORTUGAL tasted Nations League glory for a second time with Cristiano Ronaldo playing a starring role – and Chelsea flop Alvaro Morata the villain.
Match Report
After winning the inaugural 2019 edition, Roberto Martinez’s men are champions once more in a thrilling finale in Munich, fighting back twice to draw level against reigning European champions Spain.
Ronaldo netted an ingenious equalising 61st minute volley to make it 2-2 for his 938th career goal and 138th for his country – but the 40-year-old watched the penalties from the bench, along with 17-year-old teenage superstar Lamine Yamal.
And Spain’s Morata missed his spot-kick for Ruben Neves to slot home the winner.
Both nations were vying to become the first to lift the Nations League twice.
A slow start was thrust into life by a Nico Williams whipped curler that just cleared the bar after 17 minutes – and four minutes later the Spaniards were ahead.
Yamal at the heart of it, his delicious cross was made a mess of by a scrambling Portugal defence, allowing soon-to-be Arsenal midfielder Martin Zubimendi to score just his second international goal.
Spain were 4-0 up after 55 minutes in their 5-4 semi thriller against France last week, but Ronaldo was not about to let that happen again as he burst in behind to spark an attack.
It ended with Mendes firing low into the bottom corner in the 26th minute, but not before a VAR check that judged Ronaldo to have timed his run to perfection.
The final say of the first half was Spain’s.
Pedri with a superb reverse pass to tee up Mikel Oyarzabal in injury time – the man who broke English hearts in the Euros final in Berlin last summer producing another big goal in Munich.
Martinez responded by bringing on Neves and Nelson Semedo at the break, and it almost had an instant impact as Bruno Fernandes had a 49th minute strike ruled out for offside.
An equaliser was coming and Ronaldo reacted first to a deflected looped cross that bamboozled Marc Cucurella for his eighth Nations League of the campaign.
He hobbled off with a muscular injury in the 88th minute, while Yamal was subbed in the 106th minute, as the game became niggly with a VAR red-check following a mass melee.
Goncalo Ramos, Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes and Nuno Mendes all slotted home their penalties before Neves became the hero.
Data Debrief: Ronaldo has his say once again
Portugal have now become the most successful team in the history of the Nations League after lifting their second title, and their first since 2018-19, with their leading marksman once again standing tall on the grandest of stages.
Ronaldo's strike in the 61st minute proved crucial in the context of the game. Indeed, no player has scored more goals against Spain than the five-time Ballon d'Or winner in all competitions since January 2004 (Eduardo Vargas also has four).
But Spain can reflect on another impressive international campaign. La Roja finished the 2024-25 tournament having scored 25 goals in 10 matches, the most by any team in a single edition of the men's competition since its inception in 2018.
And Oyarzabal also made history for La Roja. He became the first player in Spanish history to score in three different finals, having also found the net in the Nations League showpiece in 2021 and Euro 2024 final.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
5' Joao Neves volleys it into the ground and it bounces wide!
13' Mendes wins ball but then loses it back to Yamal before Bruno chops him down!
14' Free-kick just outside the Portugal box but Yamal drags it well over the bar!
15' Pedri sends the shot spinning wide from the Nico Williams cutback!
21' GOAL! Martín Zubimendi slams the finish high into the net! Portugal 0-1 Spain
26' GOAL! Mendes smashes the ball hard into corner of the net! Portugal 1-1 Spain
33' Yellow Card! Fabian Ruiz booked for a late one on the dangerous figure of Neto!
45' GOAL! Oyarzabal with slight touches on ball beyond keeper! Portugal 1-2 Spain
46' Nelson Semedo and Ruben Neves are on as Neves and Conceicao depart the scene!
49' Bruno struck a stunning shot from 22 yards, but Neto is offside before assist!
56' Costa gets down sharply to make a decent stop from the speculative Ruiz effort!
61' GOAL! Cristiano Ronaldo buries the finish beyond Simon! Portugal 2-2 Spain
63' Brilliant stuff from Pedri on the break but Mendes makes the vital block!
75' Renato Veiga and Rafael Leao arrive for Goncalo Inacio and Bernardo Silva!
82' Yellow Card! Pedro Neto booked for pull back Lamine Yamal!
83' Isco's swerving hit from 22 yards or so is tipped over the bar by Costa!
88' Ronaldo gives the captain's armband to Bruno and is replaced by Goncalo Ramos!
92' Mendes crosses beautifully, but Semedo shanks his finish wide!
100' Yellow Card! Nuno Mendes booked Nuno Mendes for protesting!
108' Porro's Beckham-style long shot just misses, Costa scrambles!
Line-ups
Portugal XI: Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva, Diogo Costa, Pedro Neto, Vitinha, Francisco Conceição, Nuno Mendes, Gonçalo Inácio, João Neves
Subs: Rui Silva, Semedo, Jose Sa, Neves, Palhinha, Jota, Dalot, Francisco Trincão, Felix, Pedro Gonçalves, Leao, Gonçalo Ramos, António Silva, Renato Veiga, Rodrigo Mora
Spain XI: Le Normand, Unai Simón, Cucurella, Fabian Ruiz, Oyarzabal, Martín Zubimendi, Óscar Mingueza, Pedri, Nico Williams, Dean Huijsen, Yamal
Subs: Isco, Morata, Grimaldo, Álex Remiro, David Raya, Merino, Olmo, Dani Vivian, Álex Baena, Porro, Yeremy, Gavi, Fermín López, Samu Aghehowa, Cubarsi