Cristiano Ronaldo will lead Portugal against Spain in Sunday's Nations League final as both nations aim to claim the trophy for the second time in their history.
"Spain is probably one of the best teams in the world right now, but we believe in our style and capabilities," Roberto Martinez emphasized ahead of the clash that pits his Portuguese squad against the tournament favorites.
The Portuguese cleared a significant hurdle by defeating Germany in the semifinals—their first victory over the Germans in 25 years. Francisco Conceicao equalized with a powerful strike before Ronaldo dramatically sealed the win in his 220th international appearance.
Portugal nearly crashed out in the quarterfinals too, requiring a late Trincao goal to force extra time against Denmark. For Martinez, winning the Nations League would help regain fan support following Portugal's disappointing Euro campaign, especially with World Cup 2026 qualifiers approaching against Hungary, Ireland, and Armenia.
Meanwhile, Luis de la Fuente's Spain has been nearly unstoppable, scoring an impressive 23 goals in nine matches this tournament. Their attacking prowess was on full display when they put six past the Netherlands in the quarterfinals.
"In the final we will see two superpowers. We're playing against friends, and Ronaldo is one of the greatest. I have boundless admiration for him," de la Fuente remarked, showing respect for his opponent.
The match features a symbolic generational clash between 39-year-old Ronaldo and 17-year-old Lamin Yamal, who starred in Spain's 5-4 victory over France with two goals in the semifinal.
Spain's young attackers have transformed their traditional possession game. "They've added speed and verticality with players like Nico Williams and Lamin Yamal while maintaining their typical style of ball possession," Martinez noted about his opponents.
Despite Portugal having a deeper squad on paper, Spain's attacking flair, youthful energy, and confidence make them favorites. However, writing off Ronaldo and his teammates would be premature.
Can the veteran Portuguese star deliver one more trophy for his nation, or will Spain's new generation continue their dominant run? Sunday's showdown promises to be a fascinating contest between football's past and future.
