Spain-Portugal final more than just Cristiano vs Yamal says Ronaldo
Munich, Jun 07, 2025 -Portugal captain
Cristiano Ronaldo
acknowledged he was "another generation" to Spain starlet
Lamine Yamal
but said Sunday's
Nations League final
was more than just a battle between the duo.
The final in Munich has been framed as a showdown between veteran Ronaldo, 40, one of the game's biggest names, and 17-year-old Yamal, the most exciting young talent in world football.
Ronaldo scored the winner to send Portugal past Germany into the final and Yamal was named man-of-the-match after bagging a brace in Spain's wild 5-4 semi-final win over France.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
One of the Most Successful Investors of All Time, Warren Buffett, Recommends: 5 Books for Turning...
Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List
Click Here
Undo
Ronaldo however said the focus on the two individuals was overblown, calling Spain "maybe the best national team in the world".
"There are different generations, one is coming in and another is exiting the stage. If you want to see me as another generation, then that's OK.
Live Events
"When you talk about a clash between Cristiano and someone else, that's not how it works. The media always try to hype things up, which is a normal thing, but it's one team versus another team."
"You've been talking about Lamine a lot and you're right to do so because he's very good," Ronaldo told journalists, adding "but I'd like to talk about the team.
"They've got Nico Williams, great midfielders like Pedri and their coach (Luis) de la Fuente is very good, very strong, very disciplined."
- 'Funny hair' -
Portugal last beat their Iberian neighbours in a competitive fixture in 21 years ago at
Euro 2024
, a match which Ronaldo started.
Like Yamal, Ronaldo burst onto the scene at a young age.
Aged just 18, Ronaldo impressed so much for boyhood side Sporting in a 3-1 win over Manchester United in a friendly in Lisbon that the English club decided to buy him, bringing him to Old Trafford less than a week later.
Like a young Ronaldo, Yamal has consistently impressed since bursting onto the scene, winning a league and cup double with
Barcelona
this season after lifting the Euro 2024 title in Germany last summer.
The Portuguese veteran asked media to allow the teenager to grow and improve without pressure, reminding them the Spanish star "with funny hair" was just "three years older than my son".
"The kid has been doing very well, but what I ask is for you to let him grow, not put him under pressure. For the good of football, we need to let him grow in his own way and enjoy the talent he has."
Both Spain and Portugal have already won the Nations League. Spain are the current champions from their win in 2023, while Portugal won the inaugural tournament back in 2019.
dwi/ea
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
37 minutes ago
- Time of India
Veteran wide receiver Chris Conley retires from the NFL for a surprising reason
Chris Conley is retiring from the NFL. Source: X Wide receiver Chris Conley is stepping away from the NFL after a decade-long career to pursue his true passion, which is filmmaking. According to his agent, Jonathan Perzley, Conley will begin this new chapter by enrolling in film school at the University of Georgia, which is also his alma mater. Why did Chris Conley retire from the NFL? Conley shared the news of his retirement on Instagram Saturday morning. 'When I was a kid I wrote down a set of goals. On that list was 'Play 10 years in the NFL.' Now that this goal has been accomplished, it's time to set sights on something new,' he wrote. Throughout his 10-year NFL career, Conley played in 132 games and made 65 starts across five teams. He recorded 226 receptions, 2,998 receiving yards, and 15 touchdowns. Conley also contributed on special teams besides his stint as a wide receiver. His standout season came in 2019 with Jacksonville, where he posted career highs with 47 receptions for 775 yards and five touchdowns. Over the last two seasons with the 49ers, Conley primarily served as a backup behind Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, and Jauan Jennings. 'The past 10 years have been a dream,' Conley wrote. 'Getting the opportunity to play in the league was an honor and whether it was catching touchdowns or blocking for them, I truly gave it my all.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Do you wash your bath towel often? Experts in Singapore found germs 'too numerous to count' CNA Read More Undo "I cant mention everyone who was instrumental in my growth as a man and player but if you played a part, I extend a heartfelt thank you. To my teammates, training staff, and coaches thanks for the friendship and trust throughout the years. God makes no mistakes and I'm thankful he proved this to me throughout my career. He is more than enough," he added. He signed off his announcement with, 'See you in the next dream.' The Pro-Bowler has been a solid, reliable player throughout his NFL career. He was drafted in the third round by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2015. It is not yet known exactly which direction he may pursue in filmmaking or what influenced him to retire.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Bengaluru stampede: How further disaster was thwarted on top tiers of Chinnaswamy Stadium
1 2 Bengaluru: While pain, anguish and trauma unfolded outside M Chinnaswamy Stadium Wednesday, a potential disaster was averted by the skin of the teeth inside the stadium — thanks to the swift response of alert private security personnel and police officers. By 5pm on that fateful day, as it became clear certain stands, particularly Stand 13, were overcrowded, D Bhaskar, the managing director of Supreme Care Services, a private security agency deployed by event partner DNA, could sense trouble. "Stand 13 looked dangerous. People were jumping from the upper tier to the lower level to get a better view," Bhaskar recalled. "Some even used pillars and fences to climb down. It was a crowd unlike what we usually see during IPL matches — much more aggressive and unruly." Bhaskar, drawing on his army training and two years' experience of handling RCB match security, read the situation fast enough to realise it was spiralling out of control. "Several stands were operating at over 120% capacity. Those spectators who stood up were blocking the views of those behind, which led to pushing and jostling," he said. "I feared people could fall off the upper stands straight to the ground." Bhaskar immediately approached a senior police officer at the venue. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Obtén audífonos premium sin pagar absolutamente nada Top Audifonos Undo "I must thank him — he acted without any delay. Five police officers from the VIP area were immediately told to control the situation on the upper stands. They moved to the upper tiers and cleared out those threatening to act dangerously," Bhaskar said. Warnings on loudspeaker Meanwhile, Bhaskar's team comprising former army personnel, used walkie-talkies and loudspeakers to warn the spectators. "We told the crowd that they were under surveillance and strict action would be taken against any unruly conduct, which instilled some fear and helped calm the situation."
News18
an hour ago
- News18
Portugal Vs Spain Live Football Streaming For UEFA Nations League 2025: How To Watch POR Vs ESP Coverage On TV And Online
Last Updated: Check out the live streaming details for the Portugal vs Spain UEFA Nations League 2025 match to be played at the Allianz Arena in Germany. European champions Spain are set to face their neighbours, Portugal, in the Nations League final on Sunday, with both teams competing not only for the trophy but also for bragging rights. Having topped their respective groups, Spain and Portugal have experienced dramatic journeys through the knockout stages of the tournament. Portugal showed resilience in their quarter-final clash against Denmark, coming from behind three times over two legs to force extra time. They then scored twice in the additional 30 minutes to secure their spot in the semifinals. In the semis, Portugal again came from behind but managed to win 2-1 thanks to goals from Francisco Conceicao and Cristiano Ronaldo. Spain's route was even more thrilling. They drew both legs against the Netherlands, ending with a 5-5 aggregate score before clinching victory in a penalty shootout. In the semifinals against France, Spain built a commanding lead of 4-0 and then 5-1, only to face a late surge from France, which scored several goals to narrow the gap. The match ended 5-4, giving Spain a nail-biting win and a place in the final. POR vs ESP will be played on Sunday, June 8. POR vs ESP will be played at the Allianz Arena in Germany. POR vs ESP will start at 12:30 AM IST. POR vs ESP will be televised live in India on the Sony Ten 2 and Sony Ten 2 HD TV channels. How do I watch Portugal vs Spain UEFA Nations League 2025 match live streaming? POR vs ESP will be streamed live on the SonyLiv app in India. What are the Predicted Line-ups for Portugal vs Spain UEFA Nations League 2025 match live game? Spain XI: Unai Simon; Pedro Porro, Dean Huijsen, Robin Le Normand, Marc Cucurella; Fabian Ruiz, Pedri; Lamine Yamal, Mikel Merino, Nico Williams; Mikel Oyarzabal First Published:
