Cristiano Ronaldo in Tears when Portugal Beats Spain

On Sunday, June 8, 2025, Portugal beat Spain five to three in penalties, making them the 2025 Nations League champions. This game took place in the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany.

It was an exciting, close game, with each side scoring goals. Portugal ended up winning 5 – 3 in the penalty shootout, becoming the first country to win two times in the Nations League. Portugal had also won the title six years ago, in 2019.

This game was the first time that Cristiano Ronaldo played Lamine Yamal face-to-face. Cristiano Ronaldo is a forty year old Portuguese soccer legend, while Lamine Yamal is a seventeen year old star athlete who plays for Spain. In the Nations League, Spain has won two games, beating Italy 3-1 and Germany 2-0. Portugal tied with Croatia 2-2 and beat France 2-1.

The first point in the finals went to Spain, when Martin Zubimendi scored 1-0 after twenty-one minutes. Soon, Portugal’s Nuno Mendes scored a low strike into a far corner of the goal five minutes later, tying the score at 1-1. Mikel Oyarzbal, from Spain, scored another goal at half-time, bringing Spain to the lead again. A while later, Ronaldo scored his 138th international goal, tied the score 2-2, and ended the main game after 90 minutes.

Because of the tie, the teams moved on to extra time, but this ended in a tie again after neither team scored. Moving on to spot kicks, Portugal scored all five, with Spain’s Álvaro Morata being the only man to miss. This ended the game 3-5, with Portugal winning.

Ronaldo was in tears when he explained the value of Portugal’s win. “Ronaldo said: ‘Winning for Portugal is always special. I have many titles with clubs, but nothing is better than winning for Portugal,'” reported BBC News.

References

“Portugal beat Spain on penalties to win Nations League,” BBC News, June 9, 2025, www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/articles/cwynm2pykggo

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