Beat Spain in final 

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After 120 minutes, penalties were needed to decide the winner of the 2025 UEFA Nations League final between Portugal and Spain in front of 65,852 fans at Munich’s Allianz Arena. Martin Zubimendi (21’) and Mikel Oyarzabal (45’) had scored for Spain, and Nuno Mendes (26’) and Cristiano Ronaldo (61’) were the scorers for Portugal in what was a tightly contested affair.

Then, until the fourth round of penalties, both teams were perfect. Gonçalo Ramos, Vitinha,  Bruno Fernandes, and Nuno Mendes scored for Portugal, and Mikel Merino, Alex Baena, and Isco scored for Spain. Then Álvaro Morata stepped up and Diogo Costa stopped his shot. With the game on the line, Ruben Neves stepped up to win it for Portugal. The penalty secured Portugal’s second title in the competition. The Seleção becomes the first country in history to win the Nations League for a second time. 

The Portuguese won the first-ever edition of the UEFA Nations League back in 2019. France and finalist Spain are the only other winners of the tournament. Goalscorer Ronaldo scored twice during the tournament, which makes him the joint second-best goalscorer in the UEFA Nations League with 15 goals behind Norway’s Erling Haaland (19 goals). 

Ronaldo decisive – Penalties make the difference 

Ronaldo, in fact, was decisive in his country’s success in the final four in Munich and Stuttgart. The 40-year-old scored the winner against Germany in the 2-1 semifinal win and then tied the game against Spain tonight. Then with just minutes left in the final, Ronaldo had to come off with what looked like muscle problems. Without Ronaldo, Portugal were perhaps the better team in over-time but the winner wouldn’t come. Instead, the Seleção needed penalties. 

It was undoubtedly a game of fine margins. “Our fighting spirit and togetherness were decisive today,” Portugal star Bruno Fernandes said to DAZN after the game. “We knew it would be a tough game; Spain is one of the best national teams in the world. They play brilliant football and have amazing footballers, but we also know that we have a good team.” Added Spain head coach Luis De La Fuente: “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.”

As for Ronaldo, it is the third title with Portugal for the 40-year-old striker. Indeed, Ronaldo’s track record with Portugal’s Seleção remains impressive. Tonight, Ronaldo scored his 138th goal in his 219th game for the national team. Both are records. The game concludes Ronaldo’s season. The star striker had offers to participate in the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup, but confirmed ahead of the game that despite a significant number of offers wasn’t going to participate.