Soccer-Portugal's emotional Ronaldo rejoices in winning Nations League
Soccer Football - Nations League - Final - Portugal v Spain - Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany - June 8, 2025 Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, Francisco Conceicao and Joao Felix celebrate in front of the fans after winning the UEFA Nations League REUTERS/Angelika Warmuth
MUNICH, Germany (Reuters) -Portugal skipper Cristiano Ronaldo shed tears of joy as they won their second Nations League title on Sunday, insisting that winning trophies with his country beats all club honours.
Ronaldo's 138th international goal in the second half took the final to penalties after a 2-2 draw with Spain, with the substituted 40-year-old forward looking on from the sidelines as Portugal netted all five spot kicks to claim the title.
The triumph, which left the five-times Champions League winner in tears, was Ronaldo's third on the international stage, accompanying his 2016 European Championship and 2019 Nations League winners' medals.
"What a joy," Ronaldo told Sport TV. "First of all for this generation, which deserved a title of this magnitude, for our families. My children came here, my wife, my brother, my friends.
"Winning for Portugal is always special. I have many titles with clubs, but nothing is better than winning for Portugal. It's tears. It's duty done and a lot of joy.
"When you talk about Portugal it is always a special feeling. Being captain of this generation is a source of pride. Winning a title is always the pinnacle in a national team."
Ronaldo's future remains uncertain. He said last week he did not plan to play at the Club World Cup in the United States, which starts later this month, despite being courted by clubs taking part in the 32-team tournament.
The Al-Nassr forward said he had several offers from other teams to play in the U.S., while his side's sporting director, Fernando Hierro said last month they were negotiating with Ronaldo over a contract extension but faced competition from clubs eager to sign the five-times Ballon d'Or winner.
For now, however, he is only focused on celebrating his latest triumph, having played in the final with an injury.
"It's beautiful," he added. "It's for our nation. We are a small people, but with a very big ambition.
"The future is short term. Now is the time to rest well. I had the injury and that was the maximum, the maximum ... I pushed, because for the national team you have to push."
(Reporting by Peter Hall)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
20 minutes ago
- The Star
Cricket-Australia favourites to retain WTC crown against South Africa
FILE PHOTO: Cricket - Ashes - Fifth Test - England v Australia - The Oval, London, Britain - July 31, 2023 Australia's Pat Cummins walks after losing his wicket, caught by England's Ben Stokes off the bowling of Moeen Ali Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers/File Photo LONDON (Reuters) - Australia will have to dust off the cobwebs but are still fancied to successfully defend their World Test Championship crown against equally ring-rusty South Africa in the final at Lord's, starting on Wednesday. The five-day clash comes on the heels of a plethora of limited overs cricket over the last five months and both teams have been scrambling to prepare for a high-profile return to the red-ball game. Australia have not played a test since beating Sri Lanka in Galle in February when they made sure of a top-two finish in the standings from results for the 2023-25 WTC cycle. South Africa were assured of top place when they won their last test against Pakistan at home in January to book a first-ever finals appearance. It came on the back of a run of seven successive wins, but the fact they did not play against the Aussies or England has seen their achievement dismissed as too easy. Former England captain Michael Vaughan said they reached the final "on the back of beating pretty much nobody," which was a result of the lopsided test schedule where Australia, England, and India dominate and South Africa elect to play more financially lucrative limited-overs internationals. But an upset win for South Africa could change that. "It's the biggest thing in this team's existence. It's the biggest thing for South African cricket at the moment,' said their coach Shukri Conrad. SELECTION CHOICES Australia have been warming up with training sessions at Beckenham in Kent as they grapple with selection choices. They must pick between Scott Boland or Josh Hazlewood to join skipper Pat Cummins, left-armer Mitchell Starc and spinner Nathan Lyon in the attack' The top batting order is likely to be changed with Cameron Green set to return for his first test in more than a year. He will likely bat third with Marnus Labuschagne opening alongside Usman Khawaja, while Steve Smith will come in at No. 4. South Africa's planned four-day warm-up scrimmage with Zimbabwe at Arundel last week was largely washed out but did hint at Wiaan Mulder moving up the order to No.3 in a batting lineup that has been inconsistent over the last two years. Their hopes rest instead on a fiery bowling attack where Kagiso Rabada features after serving a one-month ban for recreational drug use. Australia won the last WTC final by beating India at The Oval two years ago. New Zealand were the inaugural winners in 2021. (Reporting by Mark Gleeson; Editing by Ken Ferris)
Malay Mail
36 minutes ago
- Malay Mail
Portugal claim Nations League crown after perfect penalty performance against Spain
MUNICH (Germany), June 9 — Ruben Neves scored the decisive spot kick after Alvaro Morata missed as Portugal beat Spain 5-3 on penalties following a 2-2 draw in Munich yesterday to claim their second Nations League title. Portugal twice went behind in regulation time but twice fought back to level the scores. 'Our fighting spirit and togetherness were decisive today,' Bruno Fernandes, who converted his penalty, told RTL. 'When we stay together like this, we're very difficult to beat.' After 21 minutes, Martin Zubimendi took advantage of some sleepy Portugal defence to put Spain in front. The brilliant Nuno Mendes levelled things up five minutes later. Mikel Oyarzabal, Spain's goalscorer in the Euro 2024 final and the 2023 Nations League final, put La Roja back in front just before the break. Cristiano Ronaldo, quiet as he had been before scoring the winner against Germany in the semis, equalised with 61 minutes gone, adjusting quickly after a Mendes cross was deflected into the air, muscling past Marc Cucurella and volleying the dropping ball home. Ronaldo was subbed off before full-time with cramp. Even though Portugal had the better of extra time, the match went to penalties. Both sides converted their first three spot kicks. Mendes buried Portugal's fourth, before Morata stepped up and shot straight at Diogo Costa. Neves nervelessly converted in front of the red and green of the Portugal fans. On the sidelines, Ronaldo could not watch the final penalty, burying his face in a teammate's back. Once Neves converted, the Portugal veteran fell to his knees and was embraced by players and staff. The victory was just Portugal's second competitive win over Iberian rival Spain in their long history. Portugal's only other win over Spain in a competitive fixture was a 1-0 victory which booted the Spaniards out of Euro 2004, with a 19-year-old Ronaldo on the left wing. Portugal became the first two-time winner of the Nations League, launched in 2018. It was Portugal's third major title, along with Euro 2016. Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said the match was 'equal'. 'We did a lot well, but in football sometimes things happen and the opponent is able to beat you,' he said. Portugal equalise twice While Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal's fluid movement troubled the Portuguese defence early in the match, La Roja's opener was scrappy. Yamal chipped from outside the box and the Portugal defence froze, botching a clearance which fell to Zubimendi, who leathered the ball into the net. The goal was just rewards for Spain's early dominance, but Portugal hit back almost immediately. Mendes, put through by Pedro Neto, drilled a low shot across the goal and in. Just before halftime, Spain picked Portugal's pocket in their own half before advancing. Pedri linked with Oyarzabal, who threaded the ball past Diogo Costa. Oyarzabal's goal meant he has scored in three international finals — against England at Euro 2024, which Spain won, and the 2023 and 2025 Nations Leagues, which Spain lost. Ronaldo had done little other than encourage the heavily Portuguese crowd until that point but would pick his moment to strike. With 61 minutes gone, Mendes shed a defender and whipped in a cross. The ball took a deflection and Ronaldo outmuscled Cucurella before lashing a volley home. The goal was Ronaldo's fourth in 10 matches against Spain. The previous three all coming in a wild 3-3 draw at the 2018 World Cup. Limping in the dying stages of regulation time, Ronaldo fell to the turf with three minutes left and signalled to the bench that his night was over. Spain may have been confident when the match went to extra time, having won on penalties in 2023, but Portugal were faultless, Neves stepping up and converting to send his teammates, including a hobbled Ronaldo, streaming onto the pitch. — AFP
Malay Mail
36 minutes ago
- Malay Mail
Mbappe fires France past Germany for Nations League bronze
STUTTGART (Germany), June 9 — Kylian Mbappe bagged a goal and an assist as France beat Germany 2-0 in the Nations League bronze-medal match in Stuttgart yesterday. Mbappe wove his magic in a heavily changed France squad. Germany dominated the opening half but Mbappe provided the breakthrough just before half-time, carving a shot through a crowded penalty box to bring up his 50th goal in France colours. Late in the second, with the hosts desperately looking for an equaliser, Mbappe snatched a poor Germany pass on the halfway line and rampaged forward, before setting up Michael Olise. Mbappe had not scored in open play for France for more than a year. After the match, the France captain hit back at criticism levelled against him, telling DAZN 'since I arrived in the international team, everyone always talks about me... when they have an opportunity to talk bad, they talk bad. 'They did it with all the great players in history in France and I'm the next. But I'm OK with that. I just try and do my job.' France and Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni praised his club and international teammate Mbappe, saying 'everyone in the team loves him. 'He's a very important player for us and when he plays like he did today, it's just amazing.' 'Germany's wastefulness costs them' For Germany, who lost two straight matches for the first time since 2023, questions remain over how much they have truly improved under Julian Nagelsmann. Striker Niclas Fuellkrug lamented his side's wastefulness, telling DAZN: 'if we had taken our first chance and scored, it could have been three or four nil for us.' In the lead-up to yesterday's encounter, France coach Didier Deschamps admitted the Nations League clash with old rivals Germany 'isn't the most important game for us,' with a clear focus on next year's World Cup. Deschamps made eight changes from the semi-final loss to Spain, with only captain Mbappe, goalie Mike Maignan and midfield veteran Adrien Rabiot keeping their starting spots. Nagelsmann also rotated heavily, making four changes including bringing Fuellkrug back into the starting XI. The Germans had a wealth of chances in the opening half. Karim Adeyemi won a penalty but it was overturned by VAR for diving. Florian Wirtz hit the post. Mbappe struck just before half-time. The Real Madrid man collected a pass which floated over Joshua Kimmich's head, took a touch and hammered a shot home with his preferred right foot. Nagelsmann replaced rookie striker Nick Woltemade with Deniz Undav at half-time. The move seemed to have paid immediate dividends — Undav had the ball in the net, but his effort was chalked off for a foul in the build-up. Germany dominated possession and field position, but that left them vulnerable on the break to France's lightning-fast forwards, led by Mbappe. Marcus Thuram hit the post on 58 minutes. Then Mbappe and substitute Olise, who plays in Germany for Bayern Munich, combined to seal the match for France. The French captain pounced on a poor Robin Koch clearance on the halfway line and ran goalwards, squaring for the onrushing Olise to tap home with six minutes remaining. Later on yesterday, reigning Nations League and Euros champions Spain faced Portugal in Munich to decide this year's crown. — AFP
