Cristiano Ronaldo sends final message to Portugal ahead of UEFA Nations League Final vs. Yamal’s Spain

Cristiano Ronaldo is once again knocking on the door of history, ready to add another chapter to his legendary career—this time in the UEFA Nations League Final against Lamine Yamal’s Spain. With under 24 hours to go before the decisive clash, the soccer legend shared a final message for Portugal fans and teammates.

Since taking over in 2023, former Belgium manager Roberto Martinez has been tasked with rebuilding Portugal following a disappointing 2022 World Cup. While veterans like Pepe and João Moutinho have stepped away from the national team, Ronaldo has not only remained but thrived under the new coach’s leadership.

In fact, Ronaldo’s numbers under Martinez have been the best of his international career. With 19 goals in 24 appearances, he’s averaging 0.79 goals per game—higher than the 0.62 he posted under longtime coach Fernando Santos.

With a major trophy on the line, Ronaldo’s final words ahead of the showdown struck a unifying tone. “For us. For you. For Portugal. Tomorrow is a day to make history again,” he wrote on social media, rallying support ahead of the high-stakes encounter.

Portugal will face Spain in the 2025 Nations League Final on Sunday at Allianz Arena in Germany, following the third-place match between Germany and France. With 17-year-old Lamine Yamal drawing global attention as the rising star of the tournament, Ronaldo will look to prove that he still has chapters left to write.

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Cristiano Ronaldo eyes another trophy with Portugal

Portugal has long produced world-class players—Eusébio, Rui Costa, Deco, Luís Figo—but for decades, team success on the international stage remained elusive. That all changed with the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo.

Portugal’s first major title came at Euro 2016, a 1-0 win over France in which Ronaldo played a key role before exiting early due to injury. The nation followed that with a second trophy at the 2019 Nations League, defeating the Netherlands 1-0 in the final.

Now, in what will be Portugal’s third final during Ronaldo’s era, the 39-year-old superstar hopes to score his first goal in a final and help secure the country’s third major international title.