Ronaldo's tears enhance the Nations League – Portugal's eternal captain leads his team to the title against Spain at the age of 40

Cristiano Ronaldo was no longer on the pitch when the Nations League final was decided on penalties. Portugal's captain had been forced off with a muscle injury shortly before the end of regular time, with the score at 2-2 against Spain. He was a respectable 40-year-old, but now he could do nothing – and could barely bear to watch. Ronaldo rested his head in his hands or leaned it on the shoulder of teammate Diogo Dalot, his eyes already moist.

Shortly afterwards, tears of joy flowed from his eyes. Spanish captain Álvaro Morata, his team's fourth goal-scorer, was denied by goalkeeper Diogo Costa. All the Portuguese players scored, and the title was theirs. Ronaldo stepped onto the pitch, knelt on the ground, and the tears rolled even more. Soon, his teammates gathered around him in celebration. Ronaldo was their talisman and spiritual leader: as if they were inspired by the thought of winning this final tournament for him, just as Argentina did with Lionel Messi at the 2022 World Cup.

Portugal won for Ronaldo, who had been waiting for the 35th title of his impressive career since winning the Italian Cup in 2021 with Juventus Turin. And Ronaldo won for Portugal, with his goals in the 2-1 semi-final against Germany and the 2-2 equalizer in the final: his 138th international goal in 221 matches. "I would break a leg for the Seleção," he later said. "Nothing beats winning titles with Portugal. The tears and the feeling of duty fulfilled: that's magnificent. It's our country; we are a small nation, but one with great ambitions."

Of course, the importance of the Nations League is in no way comparable to a World Cup. But the high-intensity final and the Portuguese's ecstatic victory party in the Munich Arena made it clear that, at least for the top nations, the format has long been more than a tedious side issue. Something has happened to this competition, which was supposed to replace the boring friendlies and was won by Portugal in its first edition in 2019: Since the Spanish triumphed in 2023 and followed it up with the European Championship the following year, the Nations League has been seen as a catalyst for self-confidence and a winning mentality.

German national coach Julian Nagelsmann repeatedly evoked this effect before the tournament began, but now it's Portugal that will take him from Germany to the 2026 World Cup. With the exception of world number one Argentina, there will be few tougher rivals at the world tournament than this Final Four of Europe's elite. Portugal's highly talented squad now knows it can beat any opponent, and after its disappointing quarterfinal exit at Euro 2024, it no longer carries the burden of unfulfilled expectations.

"This generation deserved a title," said Ronaldo, referring to the many players who were not part of the 2019 tournament. Among them is the fantastic left-back Nuno Mendes, who was named man of the match and of the entire final tournament.

The 22-year-old scored the goal that made it 1-1, provided the assist for Ronaldo's 2-2, controlled Spain's prodigious right winger Lamine Yamal more effectively than any other player in that position this season, made crucial saves in defense, and excelled in the build-up play. As a reward, the Champions League winner Paris Saint-Germain player, like his club colleagues Vitinha, João Neves, and Gonçalo Ramos, celebrated a title at the Munich stadium for the second consecutive weekend.

However, the top scorer in the Nations League A division (with a total of eight goals) will officially be without a club at the end of this month: Cristiano Ronaldo. His contract with Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia is expiring. A short-term commitment elsewhere for the upcoming Club World Cup will not be an option, no matter how much FIFA President Gianni Infantino might wish for it: Ronaldo made that clear on Saturday. After the final victory, he hinted at a possible stay at Al-Nassr.

The Methuselah certainly underscored his worth last week. Beyond the goals, Ronaldo also demonstrated with his understanding of the game and his range of action that, after four decades, he can still claim a place on a team like Portugal. After last year's dismal European Championship, this was arguably his true triumph: Back then, his seemingly obsessive desire to be present seemed to be a burden to the Seleção, failing to score in almost 500 minutes of action.

Ronaldo's personal revenge in the Nations League thus also became one of his loyal fan, Roberto Martínez. Portugal's Spanish national coach consistently defended Ronaldo against all criticism. The controversial coach at the start of the tournament did make some controversial decisions in the final against Spain, such as fielding the diminutive midfielder Neves at right-back against the speedy dribbler Nico Williams. Nevertheless, Martínez managed to break the winning streak of his large neighbor.

And so, after the match, he didn't have to answer questions about his personal future, but rather about whether Portugal could now be considered World Cup favorites. "As beautiful as football is, everything can change in 24 hours," said Martínez.

Only one thing never seems to change: the eternal Cristiano Ronaldo.