Emotion to maximum: Cristiano Ronaldo celebrated the Nations League in tears as in 2016
At 40, Cristiano Ronaldo relived the excitement of Euro 2016 in his duel with Lamine Yamal
He scored, he got injured and he cried like eight years ago, and finally, Cristiano Ronaldo did it again. At the Allianz Arena in Munich, at 40 years old and his body at breaking point, the Portuguese captain completed another epic chapter with his national team, winning the UEFA Nations League. Just like at Euro 2016, when tears flooded his eyes due to an injury in the final, he also cried this Sunday.
But this time, with emotion, with pride, with a triumph that feels like a golden farewell.
The opponent had a name: Lamine Yamal. A 17-year-old boy who hadn't even been born when CR7 made his debut for Portugal. The duel between generations, between legend and promise, had an outcome marked by the experience and opportunism of the Portuguese star, who scored the 2-2 and made his mark before leaving the field due to injury in the 86th minute.
A repeated scene: injury, tension, and tears
The image was powerful: Cristiano, lying on the grass, legs outstretched, look of frustration. The same scene as in Saint-Denis, eight years earlier. But this time, he was able to celebrate from the bench.
The match had been thrilling. Spain took the lead twice, with goals from Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Oyarzabal. Portugal responded with character. First with a goal from Nuno Mendes and then with Cristiano's 139th, after a deflected cross and a well-timed finish. The former Real Madrid and Manchester United player appeared without having shot once before.
From the bench, he experienced the outcome with the tension of someone who has given everything. He refused to look at Gonçalo Ramos' penalty. He screamed at Rubén Neves' final 5-3. And he cried.
Lamine Yamal, on the other hand, went almost unnoticed. He only had two shots, closely watched by Nuno Mendes and without any overflow. In the 21st minute, he had initiated the move that made Spain 1-0, but then fizzled out. He was substituted at the start of extra time.
The 23-year age difference between the two players set the tone for the match. The Spanish promise versus the Portuguese emblem. One races toward the future; the other, toward history.