Defeating Spain, Portugal won the Nations League championship

Portugal wins Nations League 2024-25. (Source: AP)

Portugal drew 2-2 after 120 dramatic minutes before defeating the European champions 5-3 in a fateful penalty shootout.

Cristiano Ronaldo continues to shine to make a great contribution to helping Portugal step onto the podium of honor in this year's tournament.

Ronaldo equalized in the 61st minute after Spain had twice taken the lead through Martín Zubimendi and Mikel Oyarzabal. Nuno Mendes scored the other goal of the match.

However, CR7 had to leave the field in the 88th minute and could not play with his teammates for the rest of the match due to injury.

Defeating Spain, Portugal won the Nations League championship for the second time in history after doing the same in the 2018-19 season, thereby becoming the team with the most titles in the tournament.

With this championship, Portugal is expected to receive 12.75 million euros in prize money, including 1.5 million euros for participating in League A, 750,000 euros for finishing first in the group and 10.5 million euros for winning the final.

Meanwhile, the second and third placed teams of the tournament (Spain and France respectively) are expected to receive 8 and 7 million euros in prize money. This figure does not include the achievement money in the previous group stage.

Ronaldo sets remarkable record

Cristiano Ronaldo once again created memorable milestones despite his 40th birthday when he and Portugal lifted the Nations League trophy.

Specifically, Ronaldo made history as the oldest player to win the Nations League twice. Notably, this season, he scored 8 goals - an impressive number that no other player can surpass.

Defeating Spain, Portugal won the Nations League championship

Ronaldo still shines at the age of 40.

With the goal against Spain, Ronaldo scored his 138th goal for Portugal, leaving behind second-place Lionel Messi in the list of players with the most goals for the National Team.

CR7 also raised his career scoring record to 938 goals, thereby getting closer to the 1,000 goal mark.

Defeating Spain gave Ronaldo his 132nd win with Portugal, to become the player with the most wins with the National Team.

The 2024-25 Nations League is also the third prestigious title in Ronaldo's career after winning EURO 2016 and Nations League 2018-19.

"I have many titles, but nothing can compare to winning with the national team. The tears and the feeling of accomplishment are beautiful," Ronaldo shared after the victory.

"We are a small nation, but with big ambitions. I have lived in many countries, played for many clubs, but when I talk about Portugal, it is a special feeling."

"Being the captain of this generation is a source of pride. Winning a title is always the pinnacle in the national team. I was injured, and that was too much... But I still tried, because with the national team you have to try until the end," Ronaldo affirmed.

With what he has shown, Ronaldo certainly will not stop to continue conquering new heights in his career.

France beat Germany to win third place

Ahead of the final, France secured third place overall in the 2024-25 Nations League after a 2-0 win over hosts Germany.

Captain Kylian Mbappe continued to shine to play the hero in the victory of the French team.

He was the one who opened the scoring with a technical finish at the end of the first half, before assisting Michael Olise to easily score the winning goal to seal a 2-0 victory over the home team.

In the history of the tournament, France was crowned Nations League champion in the 2020-21 season after defeating Spain in the final.

On the other side of the front line, reaching the semi-finals and winning fourth place this season is the best achievement that the German team has achieved in the Nations League./.

According to VNA

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/ha-tay-ban-nha-bo-dao-nha-gianh-chuc-vo-dich-nations-league-251478.htm