Nations League: Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal lifts a second title by beating Spain

La Roja loses its title. Led by a brilliant Nuno Mendes, Portugal overturned Spain to win on penalties in Sunday's Nations League final after twice trailing, knocking the European champions off their perch. Portugal is the first nation to win the Nations League twice, a competition that has been contested every two seasons since 2018/19. The Seleçao won the inaugural edition in 2019. France in 2021 and Spain in 2023 also won the title.

On Sunday, after a thrilling penalty shootout, Ruben Neves secured victory for his team, wrong-footing Unai Simon at the foot of the Portuguese fans' stands. Just before that, Alvaro Morata had seen his effort saved by Portuguese goalkeeper Diogo Costa, who offered a chance for the title, converted by Neves.

With Paris Saint-Germain, Nuno Mendes left the Allianz Arena eight days ago with the Champions League in his hands. On Sunday, he was one of four Parisians lined up at kickoff (along with his Portuguese teammates Vitinha and Joao Neves, and Fabian Ruiz for Spain), but it was he who delivered a very classy performance, omnipresent on his left flank. Above all, he was able to contain the fire of Lamine Yamal, the 17-year-old prodigy who caused so much suffering for France in the semi-finals three days ago in Stuttgart (5-4 with a brace and an assist). But he also contributed offensively, multiplying the passes up and down his flank, causing a nightmare for the Spanish defense.

The Portuguese full-back equalized five minutes after Martin Zubimendi's opening goal for Spain, with a powerful left-footed strike that left Unai Simon with no chance for Portugal's first shot on target. And while Portugal conceded a second goal in the final minute of extra time through Mikel Oyarzabal (45th), it was once again the Parisian left-back who made the difference for his side, beating Yamal and Oscar Mingueza and breaking away.

His cross was blocked, but at the far post, Cristiano Ronaldo got the better of Marc Cucurella, who was once again roundly booed by the German crowd (his handball, which was not whistled for in the Euro 2024 quarter-final against Germany, still doesn't go down well) to equalize for the Seleçao a second time.

The long celebrations of the Champions League title did not seem to have affected Nuno Mendes's physique, as it was he who once again caused danger in the Spanish box at the start of extra time, with a perfect low cross for Nelson Semedo, who missed the target. Seven minutes later, he once again passed the entire Spanish defense before going down in the box, exhausted. He knew how to find the resources and composure to perfectly register Portugal's fourth spot-kick just before Morata failed and Ruben Neves was saved. He was then logically named man of the match.

Physically exhausted, Cristiano Ronaldo left the pitch just before the start of extra time, sitting on the bench at the end of the match. At Euro 2016, won at the Stade de France, he was injured in the first half and actively watched the match from the bench alongside his then-coach, Fernando Santos. The outcome was the same on Sunday evening in the mild Bavarian climate.

Portugal had already upset Germany in the semi-finals, trailing 1-0 early in the second half before equalising and taking the lead to advance 2-1.