In a scene reminiscent of the Euro 2016 final, Cristiano Ronaldo was visibly emotional as Portugal triumphed over Spain in the UEFA Nations League final held in Munich on Sunday. The injured captain watched from the sidelines as his team secured victory, culminating in a tense penalty shootout that ended 5-3 after both extra time and missed opportunities from Spain.
Ronaldo had previously scored the equalizing goal prior to his injury, which forced him off the field just before the 90-minute mark. He was unable to witness teammate Ruben Neves take the decisive fifth penalty after Spain’s Alvaro Morata missed his kick, sealing Portugal’s victory. “I have many titles with my clubs, but nothing is better than winning for Portugal,” the 40-year-old Ronaldo expressed after the match, celebrating yet another victory for his national team, which now includes the Euro 2016 and Nations League 2019 titles. “These are tears of joy. It’s mission accomplished.”
“What a joy,” Ronaldo told Sport TV, acknowledging the significance of the win for his teammates and their families. “My children, my wife, my brother, and my friends were all here.” Despite having played against Spain ten times, this match was particularly special as Ronaldo marked the occasion with his record-extending 138th international goal, equalizing with a deft finish in the 61st minute after a deflected shot from Nuno Mendes.
Ronaldo, however, revealed that he entered the match carrying a muscle issue. “I felt it during the warmup and had been experiencing discomfort for some time, but for the national team, I would have played through anything,” he stated. “It’s for a trophy, and I gave it my all.” He added, “We are a small nation with big ambitions. Now is the time to relax and recover.”
Having scored twice in the knockout stages of the tournament, Ronaldo finished as the second-highest scorer with eight goals. He emphasized the need to push through physical limits for his national squad. Acknowledging that he is closer to the end of his career than its beginning, Ronaldo affirmed, “I must enjoy every moment. If I can avoid serious injury, I intend to continue playing.”
Original Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/football/duty-done-cristiano-ronaldo-tears-injury-portugal-win-nations-league-final-10055885/
Category: Football,Sports
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Publish Date: 2025-06-09 10:04:00
