Portugal lifted the UEFA Nations League trophy for a second time after a dramatic 5-3 penalty shootout victory over defending champions Spain in a pulsating final that ended 2-2 after extra time. The two Iberian rivals delivered a thrilling clash packed with moments of quality, drama, and high tension at every turn.
This final marked a clash between two former Nations League winners, and from the opening whistle, it lived up to expectations. Portugal, managed by Spain-born Roberto Martinez, started brightly and could’ve grabbed an early lead. A cleverly worked short corner routine saw Bernardo Silva pick out youngster Joao Neves, but the teenager sliced his volley just wide of the target.
Spain responded in kind, reminding everyone why they were defending champions. Nico Williams raced down the left flank and cut the ball back perfectly to Pedri on the edge of the box. The Barcelona midfielder went for placement rather than power, but his low shot whisked just past the post.
The pressure paid off for Spain shortly after. Lamine Yamal, one of the tournament’s standout performers, curled in a dangerous cross that wasn’t fully cleared. The loose ball fell kindly for Martin Zubimendi, who tapped in from close range to give La Roja a 1-0 lead in the 20th minute.
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But Portugal weren’t behind for long. Just five minutes later, Paris Saint-Germain left-back Nuno Mendes surged forward with purpose. Cutting inside, he rifled a rocket into the far corner past Unai Simón, drawing Portugal level with a stunning solo effort.
Player of the Match in the Nations League final. Nuno Mendes is special @CarlsbergGroup | #UNLPOTM pic.twitter.com/Y3sSDDeAA6
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From that point on, the game turned into an end-to-end battle. Spain regained the lead moments before halftime through Mikel Oyarzabal. Pedri was again the provider, threading a clever pass into the path of the Real Sociedad forward, who made no mistake with a low finish beyond Diogo Costa.
Portugal thought they had equalised early in the second half when Bruno Fernandes found the bottom corner, but the flag went up—he had drifted offside during the build-up.
The Portuguese kept pushing, showing the kind of resilience that saw them crowned Euro 2016 champions. Their persistence paid off with a familiar name on the scoresheet. Nuno Mendes was involved again, whipping in a deflected cross that found Cristiano Ronaldo lurking at the far post. The legendary striker reacted fastest to poke the ball home, making it 2-2 with 20 minutes to go.
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The momentum swung back and forth in the final minutes of normal time, and it was Spain who nearly won it late on. Isco struck a fierce shot from 25 yards that seemed destined for the net, only for Diogo Costa to produce a stunning fingertip save.
With the score tied after 90 minutes, the final went into extra time. But after an intense contest, both teams were noticeably fatigued. Multiple substitutions were made, and the energy dropped as the two sides looked content to let the match be decided by penalties.
Spain had experience on their side, having won the 2023 Nations League final on penalties against Croatia. But this time, fortune didn’t favour them. After flawless spot-kicks from both sides, Spain captain Álvaro Morata stepped up with the score at 4-3 in Portugal’s favour. His effort lacked conviction and was saved brilliantly by Diogo Costa.
That left midfielder Ruben Neves with the chance to clinch it for Portugal. Calm under pressure, the former Wolves man sent Simón the wrong way to spark wild Portuguese celebrations. They had converted all five penalties, securing a 5-3 shootout win and another Nations League crown.
With this win, Portugal become the first nation to win the UEFA Nations League twice, adding to their triumph in the inaugural edition back in 2019. It was a night of glory, history, and perhaps even farewell, as Cristiano Ronaldo—who now has a UEFA Euro, Nations League, and five Ballon d’Ors to his name—shared a long embrace with his teammates at full-time, possibly marking the end of his glittering international career.
It was a final to remember. From blistering counter-attacks to last-minute saves and penalty shootout tension, this classic Iberian showdown had it all.
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