Nations League victors Portugal toast Ronaldo's 'winner mentality'
Portugal twice fell behind, but twice came back, with Ronaldo scoring the second equaliser.
"A captain with the type of experience he has is essential, to show the necessary values and personality," said Portugal coach Roberto Martinez.
"Spain was ahead on the scoreboard twice, but the captain has a lot of experience and we used his experience to show we are ready to win."
The 40-year-old forward was subbed off with what looked like cramp, but Portugal fought through extra time after the match finished 2-2 and then triumphed 5-3 on penalties.
On the sidelines, Ronaldo could not watch the final penalty, burying his face in a teammate's back. Once Ruben Neves converted, the Portugal veteran fell to his knees and was embraced by players and staff.
Ronaldo scored the winner in Portugal's semi-final victory over Germany and the crucial equaliser against Spain.
Nuno Mendes, who scored Portugal's first, set up Ronaldo's goal and converted a penalty in the shootout, praised the veteran's impact.
"He deserves everything. He helps us a lot on the pitch and off it," Mendes said.
"He's got a winner mentality. He's a role model. We're happy we've got him."
Mendes, who won the Champions League with Paris Saint-Germain on the same ground eight days ago, was named man of the match by UEFA after the game.
Ronaldo made his debut in the national team in 2003 and has gone on to score 138 goals while picking up 219 caps for his national side.
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France 24
6 hours ago
- France 24
Nations League victors Portugal toast Ronaldo's 'winner mentality'
Portugal twice fell behind, but twice came back, with Ronaldo scoring the second equaliser. "A captain with the type of experience he has is essential, to show the necessary values and personality," said Portugal coach Roberto Martinez. "Spain was ahead on the scoreboard twice, but the captain has a lot of experience and we used his experience to show we are ready to win." The 40-year-old forward was subbed off with what looked like cramp, but Portugal fought through extra time after the match finished 2-2 and then triumphed 5-3 on penalties. On the sidelines, Ronaldo could not watch the final penalty, burying his face in a teammate's back. Once Ruben Neves converted, the Portugal veteran fell to his knees and was embraced by players and staff. Ronaldo scored the winner in Portugal's semi-final victory over Germany and the crucial equaliser against Spain. Nuno Mendes, who scored Portugal's first, set up Ronaldo's goal and converted a penalty in the shootout, praised the veteran's impact. "He deserves everything. He helps us a lot on the pitch and off it," Mendes said. "He's got a winner mentality. He's a role model. We're happy we've got him." Mendes, who won the Champions League with Paris Saint-Germain on the same ground eight days ago, was named man of the match by UEFA after the game. Ronaldo made his debut in the national team in 2003 and has gone on to score 138 goals while picking up 219 caps for his national side.
France 24
7 hours ago
- France 24
Portugal beat Spain on penalties to claim Nations League title
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 on Sunday to claim their second Nations League title. Portugal twice went behind in regulation time but twice fought back to level the scores. Martin Zubimendi took advantage of some sleepy Portugal defence to put Spain in front after 21 minutes. 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. 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. Portugal equalise twice While Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal's fluid movement troubled the Portugese 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.
France 24
7 hours ago
- France 24
Portugal beat Spain on penalties to win Nations League
Portugal twice went behind in regulation time but twice fought back to level the scores. Martin Zubimendi took advantage of some sleepy Portugal defence to put Spain in front after 21 minutes. 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. 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. Portugal equalise twice While Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal's fluid movement troubled the Portugese 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.
