Cristiano Ronaldo had been one of the standout performers in the UEFA Nations League final between Portugal and Spain, even scoring the equalizer to bring his team level at 2–2. But late in the second half, an injury forced the legendary forward to leave the match.
In the 86th minute, Rúben Neves sent a long ball in Ronaldo’s direction, only for Spanish goalkeeper Unai Simón to charge out of his area and intercept it. As Ronaldo tried to shift directions and pursue the play, he appeared to feel discomfort in his left leg.
Unable to continue, Ronaldo went down in the 87th minute and signaled for a substitution. While he managed to walk off the pitch without assistance, the injury immediately raised concerns among fans and teammates.
Before exiting, Ronaldo handed the captain’s armband to Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes. Paris Saint-Germain striker Gonçalo Ramos came on to replace him in the closing moments of the match.
Ronaldo and a Déjà Vu of the EURO 2016 Final
The Nations League final against Spain wasn’t first time Ronaldo has been forced off in a major final for Portugal. The scenes in Munich echoed his heartbreak during the UEFA EURO 2016 final against France.
In that match, Ronaldo suffered a knee injury after a collision with French midfielder Dimitri Payet in the 8th minute. He was later diagnosed with a sprained medial collateral ligament and had to be substituted in the 25th minute, leaving the pitch in tears.
