Portugal beats Spain to claim UEFA Nations League trophy

9 June 2025

By Andile Vundla

Portugal claimed their second UEFA Nations League title, defeating arch-rivals Spain 5-3 in a dramatic penalty shootout after a thrilling 2-2 draw in Sunday’s final in Munich, Germany.

Spain, fresh off their European Championship success last year, initially looked set to add another trophy to their cabinet. Martín Zubimendi opened the scoring for the holders in the 21st minute with his second international goal, tapping in to give Spain the lead. However, their advantage was short-lived. Portugal’s dynamic full-back Nuno Mendes, after excellent build-up play from Ronaldo, calmly slotted home the equalizer, bringing Portugal level.

Just before the break, Spain regained their lead through Mikel Oyarzabal, the hero of last year’s European Championship final against England. A sublime pass from midfielder Pedri set up Oyarzabal, who found the back of the net to give Spain a 2-1 lead heading into halftime.

The second half saw relentless back-and-forth action, with both teams pushing for a decisive goal. It was Cristiano Ronaldo, with his 138th international goal, who ultimately forced the game into a penalty shootout. His crucial strike ignited Portugal’s hopes and set the stage for a tense conclusion.

In the shootout, Álvaro Morata’s miss proved to be a costly blow for Spain. Portugal capitalized on the opportunity, and it was Rúben Neves who stepped up to dispatch the winning spot-kick, sending the Portuguese contingent into wild celebrations and securing their second Nations League trophy.