Cristiano Ronaldo added another milestone to his storied career by helping Portugal win the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League in a dramatic penalty shootout against Spain. After lifting the trophy, the legendary forward made a surprising revelation about the injury that forced him off late in the match.
After scoring the equalizer to make it 2–2, Ronaldo continued to push for a winner in the second half. But in the 87th minute, he went down clutching his left leg and had to be substituted. Speaking during post-match celebrations, Ronaldo offered a candid response when asked whether he still had the hunger to compete for more titles:
“Winning a title is always the best thing with the national team. The future? I always think about the present, the short term. Now it’s time to rest well—I had a small injury even during the warm-up, and it just got worse and worse. But I fought through it, because when it comes to the national team, you have to fight.”
Ronaldo’s discomfort was evident moments before he left the pitch, chasing Unai Simon when he appeared to aggravate his left leg. What came as a surprise was his admission that the injury had already been bothering him prior to kickoff—yet he still played the majority of the match and played a key role in Portugal’s victory.
Ronaldo and a special trophy for Portugal
The Nations League title marked Portugal’s third major trophy—and Ronaldo’s third with the national team—following the Euro 2016 win and the 2019 Nations League triumph. Despite his age and long list of accolades, Ronaldo was visibly emotional after the final whistle, showing just how much this moment meant. When asked to reflect, he shared heartfelt thoughts:
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“A lot of joy, first of all because this generation deserved a title of this magnitude. Also for our families. My family is here—my children, my brothers, and my friends. Winning with Portugal is always special. I’ve won many individual and club titles, but there’s nothing better than winning with Portugal. That’s why there were tears—tears of duty fulfilled and great joy.”
Ronaldo also spoke about the pride he feels leading Portugal under coach Roberto Martinez and guiding a new generation of talent. “It’s beautiful. It’s our nation, our people. We’re a small country but with huge ambition. I’ve lived in many countries, I’ve played for clubs all over the world, but when people talk about Portugal, it’s always a very special feeling. That’s why, being the captain of this generation and of this team, it’s also important to me and a great source of pride,” he stated.
