Match in brief: Portugal come back twice then hold nerve in shoot-out
Both teams were involved in entertaining and pulsating
semi-finals and this decider simply picked up where those left off. João Neves
went close for Portugal early on while Pedri and Nico Williams narrowly missed
the target in a captivating opening 20 minutes. An opening goal felt
inevitable.
It was Spain who made the breakthrough, Martin Zubimendi
tapping in after Roberto Martínez's men twice failed to adequately clear a
teasing Lamine Yamal cross. The 17-year-old Yamal had been well shackled in a
fascinating duel with Nuno Mendes to that point and the Portugal full-back
responded with a brilliant equaliser. Receiving Pedro Neto's pass 20 metres
out, Nuno Mendes surged away from Oscar Mingueza and drilled his finish across
Unai Simón for his first international goal.
Luis de la Fuente's side were unruffled and responded on the
stroke of half-time in a way befitting of a team unbeaten in 24 competitive
matches. This time Pedri was the architect, advancing menacingly before playing
a perfectly-weighted through ball that Mikel Oyarzabal expertly clipped past
the onrushing Diogo Costa.
The half-time introductions of Rúben Neves and Nélson Semedo
solidified the Seleção and they drew level again through Cristiano Ronaldo's
eighth strike of this Nations League campaign. Nuno Mendes was at the heart of
the action once more, darting past Yamal before his deflected cross found
Ronaldo, who held off Marc Cucurella to volley in from close range – his 138th international goal.
Portugal's all-time top scorer limped off towards the end of
normal time but they then created the first serious opening of extra time when
Nélson Semedo scuffed wide. The Seleção's tails were up, with substitute Rafael
Leão spearheading their pursuit of a winning goal, but Diogo Jota's late header
over was as close as they came.
And so to penalties where the first seven found the net before Álvaro Morata was thwarted by Diogo Costa, allowing Rúben Neves to drive in the decisive spot kick
Carlos Machado, Portugal reporter
Portugal win! The Seleção knew how to suffer and managed to
prevail against Spain to win the Nations League for the second time. They came
from the break focused on changing the game and, after equalising through
Ronaldo, they prevented a more dominating Spain from hurting them.
Graham Hunter, Spain reporter
Not this time for Spain. No late, dramatic jack-in-the-box
moment. History slips through their hands and crosses the border to Portugal.
This wasn't the most effervescent or commanding performance from the European
champions, who were too often caught in possession, and too few of their 'hero
players' were a little under par. Drama, but no delight.
Roberto Martínez, Portugal coach: "When we work
for over 30 games, we start to see confidence, resilience, trust, and quality.
Quality plus the other values helps you win trophies. We don't just have a
team; we have 16-17 players on the same level, and, as a coach, I have many options
and can change concepts. It's a different team to when I started; we have more
character and confidence."
Nuno Mendes, Player of the Tournament: "We're
very happy for Ronaldo: another title. He helps us on and off the pitch; he
gives us a lot of advice. He has a great attitude and winning mentality and is
a role model for young people in the national team."
Luis de la Fuente, Spain coach: "Details do make
the difference, and that was a game which I think was super balanced, but when
we were coming to the end of the extra time, I thought we were doing enough to
avoid going to penalties. Sadly, that's what decided the match, and they, on
the night, were just slightly better and more effective in the shoot-out."
Marc Cucurella, Spain defender: "There were
chances for us to win this before it went to penalties. Maybe, overall, we
deserved more. Sometimes football is like this. We need to say congratulations
to Portugal. We need to be proud of our work because we reached another final,
which is not easy."
Key stats
- Both
nations were vying to be the first to win this competition twice, while
Spain competed in a record third successive decider.
- Spain
scored 25 goals in ten matches in the 2024/25 Nations League, the most by
any team in a single edition of the competition.
- Cristiano
Ronaldo became the first player over the age of 40 to play and score in the final. The
oldest player to feature previously was Luka Modrić (37 years 282 days vs
Spain in 2023).
- Yeremy
Pino, Mikel Merino and Unai Simón all made an appearance for Spain in the
final of the last three editions of the Nations League (2021, 2023, 2025).
- Bernardo
Silva moved level with Gianluigi Donnarumma (26) for the most appearances
in the history of the Nations League.
- Mikel
Oyarzabal has now scored in the final of the 2021 and 2025 Nations League,
and the winner at UEFA EURO 2024.
- Cristiano
Ronaldo's only previous international goals against Spain were in the
group stage at the 2018 World Cup when he scored a hat-trick in a 3-3
draw.
Line-ups
Portugal: Diogo Costa; João Neves (Nélson Semedo 46),
Rúben Dias, Gonçalo Inácio (Renato Veiga 74), Nuno Mendes; Bernardo Silva
(Rafael Leão 74), Vitinha; Francisco Conceição (Rúben Neves 46), Fernandes,
Pedro Neto (Diogo Jota 106); Ronaldo (Gonçalo Ramos 88)
Spain: Unai Simón; Mingueza (Pedro Porro 92), Le
Normand, Huijsen, Cucurella; Pedri (Isco 74), Zubimendi, Fabián Ruiz (Merino
74); Yamal (Pino 106), Oyarzabal (Morata 111), Williams (Álex Baena 92)
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