RevSportz Comment
The Nations League final, billed as football’s clash of the generations, instead became a showcase for the world’s outstanding full-back to highlight his talent. Nuno Mendes, a week after winning the Champions League with Paris Saint-Germain, scored one and set up the other as Portugal drew 2-2 with Spain before prevailing on penalties.
As for the contest between football’s past – Cristiano Ronaldo – and its future, Lamine Yamal, there was only one winner. The game’s key moment arrived in the 61st minute with Spain leading 2-1. Mendes picked up the ball, streaked past Yamal down the left touchline and cut inside. The cross was deflected and looped up, but Ronaldo – instincts fine-tuned by more than two decades of poaching – was on hand to nudge Marc Cucurella out of the way and steer the ball home with his right boot. A chastened Yamal trudged back to the halfway line.
But neither he nor Spain will lose much sleep over this. It was a measure of where the Nations League sits in the pecking order that both Yamal and Nico Williams, a constant threat on the left with his pace and physicality, were withdrawn before the second period of extra time. Both were on the red line in terms of workload, with Yamal having played 55 times for Barcelona this season, following on from 50 in 2023-24. Sandwiching those was a victorious Euro 2024 campaign with Spain.
If Luis de la Fuente has a concern ahead of the World Cup a year from now, it’s in defence. Dean Huijsen and Pau Cubarsi are clearly a centre-back pairing of the future, but whether they’ll have the nous to handle a World Cup in 2026 remains to be seen. Right now, Spain lack someone of the stature of Sergio Ramos or Carles Puyol at the heart of the defence.
For Portugal and Roberto Martinez, the same vexing question remains. Ronaldo’s nose for goal is as sharp as ever, but he offers next to nothing outside of that. Defenders now know he doesn’t have the pace to race past them, and are happy to bide their time while he does his stepovers. That Portugal immediately offered more as an attacking threat once Rafael Leao was introduced was no coincidence.
But with the careers of Joao Felix and Goncalo Ramos having stalled and Diogo Jota so injury-prone, Ronaldo’s opportunistic strikes are invaluable. How Martinez manages him – possibly as an impact sub – could well dictate Portugal’s fortunes at World Cup 2026.
For now, the memes will be all about the old dog teaching the young pup a lesson. But Spain, who dominated the first half before losing their rhythm, look in better shape for a World Cup title tilt. Williams is as scary a proposition as Yamal, while Pedri looks a worthy heir to Andres Iniesta. And in Martin Zubimendi – who will surely now end up at Real Madrid – they have a holding midfielder of the highest class.
Both Iberian sides, along with France, Germany, England and the Netherlands, will be Europe’s leading challengers for Argentina’s crown. And if he has his way, Ronaldo will definitely be there. “I have many titles with my clubs, but nothing is better than winning for Portugal,” he told reporters after the game. “These are tears. It’s mission accomplished and so much joy.
“Obviously, I’m closer to the end than I was at the beginning, but I have to enjoy every moment. If I don’t get seriously injured, I’ll keep going.”