Cristiano Ronaldo claimed his second UEFA Nations League title as Portugal defeated Spain 5-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw at the Allianz Arena in Munich.
A volley that turned the final
The match began to tilt when Spain struck first. Martin Zubimendi tapped in after Portugal failed to clear a Lamine Yamal cross. Nuno Mendes answered by surging past Oscar Mingueza and drilling his first international goal across Unai Simón.
Spain reclaimed the lead on the stroke of half-time. Pedri threaded a ball through for Mikel Oyarzabal, who clipped it over Diogo Costa to make it 2-1. But the decisive reply came in the 61st minute.
Mendes darted past Yamal once more and fired a deflected cross into the box. Ronaldo held off Marc Cucurella and volleyed in from close range — his 138th international goal. He became the first player over 40 to score in a Nations League final.
A second crown from the spot
Ronaldo limped off late in normal time and did not take a penalty. The shootout stayed perfect through seven kicks until Diogo Costa denied Álvaro Morata. Rúben Neves then drove the winner into the bottom left corner.
Portugal lifted the trophy for the second time, having also won the inaugural edition in 2019. They became the first nation to win the competition twice.
"Winning for Portugal is always special," Ronaldo told reporters afterwards. "I have many titles with clubs, but nothing is better than winning for Portugal. It's tears. It's duty done and a lot of joy."
The triumph extends a national-team story that began with the Euro 2016 crown in Saint-Denis. It now sits beside a career that includes five Champions League wins and over 900 official goals.
A quiet duty, fulfilled once more in Munich.
