🇵🇹 Portugal Crowned UEFA Nations League Champions 🏆
Date: June 8, 2025
Venue: Allianz Arena, Munich
Portugal and Spain met in a dramatic UEFA Nations League final that lived up to its billing. After a gripping 2–2 draw in normal and extra time, Portugal clinched victory in a penalty shootout with a score of 5–3.
🥅 First Half Highlights
- 21′ – Martín Zubimendi (Spain): Opened the scoring with a close-range finish.
- 26′ – Nuno Mendes (Portugal): Equalized with a thunderous strike – his first international goal.
⚽ Second Half & Extra Time
- 45′ – Mikel Oyarzabal (Spain): Finished off a brilliant pass from Pedri to make it 2–1.
- 61′ – Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal): Volleys in his 138th international goal to tie the game again.
With no goals in extra time, the match proceeded to a penalty shootout.
🧤 Penalty Shootout
Diogo Costa saved Álvaro Morata’s penalty, and Rúben Neves scored the decisive one to win it for Portugal!
🌟 Standout Performers
- Nuno Mendes: Scored and converted in the shootout. Named Man of the Match.
- Cristiano Ronaldo: Legendary presence with a crucial goal. Subbed off late, visibly emotional.
- Diogo Costa: Hero in the shootout with the only save.
💬 Post-Match Quotes
"I felt the injury since the warm-up… But for Portugal, if I had to break my leg, I would do it."
– Cristiano Ronaldo
Both teams also honored the tragic fall of a spectator during extra time, expressing heartfelt condolences.
📺 Watch Highlights
Final highlights: Portugal 2‑2 Spain (5‑3 pens)
📈 Legacy of This Win
- Portugal: First team to win two Nations League titles (2019, 2025).
- Spain: Second Nations League final loss (after 2021).
🏁 Conclusion
In one of the most dramatic finals in recent memory, Portugal’s blend of youth and experience proved decisive. From Ronaldo’s grit to Costa’s reflexes, it was a night that wrote another glorious chapter in Portuguese football history.
