Nations League final: Spain-Portugal more than Yamal battle, says Ronaldo

Lamine Yamal, the star of Portugal, acknowledged Cristiano Ronaldo’s generation, but said Sunday’s Nations League final was more than just a match between the pair.

The Munich final was intended to be a showdown between Yamal, the most exciting young talent in world football, and veteran Ronaldo, 40, one of the biggest names in the game.

In Spain’s wild 5-4 semifinal victory over France, Ronaldo scored the winner to send Portugal past Germany in the final. Yamal was named man-of-the-match after scoring a brace in the victory.

However, Ronaldo claimed that Spain was “perhaps the best national team in the world” and that the focus on the two individuals was excessive.

There are two generations entering and leaving the stage, according to the statement. That’s fine if you want to see me as a member of another generation.

That is not how it works when Cristiano and someone else are at odds with one another. It’s a common practice for the media to try to hype up things, but it’s always a team versus another team. ”

Ronaldo told reporters, “You have been talking about Lamine a lot, and you are right to do it because he’s very talented,” but I want to talk about the team.

Nico Williams, excellent midfielders like Pedri, and their coach, Luis de la Fuente, are all very good, very strong, and very disciplined. ”

Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams of Spain celebrate scoring their nation’s third goal in the Nations League semifinal against France [Angelika Warmuth/Reuters].

In a friendly game that Ronaldo started 21 years ago, Portugal last defeated their Iberian neighbors.

Ronaldo jumped on the scene when he was just a few months old, much like Yamal.

Ronaldo, age 18, impressed so much for his hometown team Sporting that they decided to buy him and bring him to Old Trafford a week later in a 3-1 victory over Manchester United in a friendly in Lisbon.

Yamal has consistently impressed since he first started playing, winning a league and cup double with Barcelona this year after winning the Euro 2024 title in Germany last year.

The Portuguese veteran, who was only “three years older than my son,” requested that the teenager be allowed to grow and improve without being pressured.

The child has been doing very well, but I ask that you let him grow and not put pressure on him. We must allow him to develop in his own way and appreciate his talent for the betterment of football. ”

Yamal was described as being “only 17 but very mature for his age,” according to Spain’s coach Luis de la Fuente. Well-prepared, wise, and intelligent, he lives his life as if it were all normal, which we aspire to.

You would be surprised, shocked, and how calm he is, de la Fuente said, adding that the national side were “trying to walk alongside [Yamal] in his education.”

“He’s special. This would be a stressful environment for some people. He is calm, in charge, and masters the circumstance, but for him, it’s relaxed. ”

Ronaldo is praised by the coach as a “legend in football and an example of the values I like: effort, work rate, sacrifice, improvement, and never letting your guard down.

Portugal is led by a football player who will leave behind an unmistakable legacy. ”

The Nations League has already been won by Portugal and Spain. Portugal won the first tournament of its kind in 2019 while Spain are the current champions following their victory in 2023.

Spain has won 16 of its previous 18 games and drawn two of its. It has not lost a competitive game since March 2023.

Spain’s Mikel Oyarzabal told reporters that while his team “does not believe we are better than anyone else,” they “know we can compete in every game.”

Source: Aljazeera