Cristiano Ronaldo couldn’t hold back his tears after Portugal won their second Nations League title on Sunday. Even though Ronaldo has won tons of trophies with different clubs, he said winning with Portugal is the best feeling ever.
Ronaldo scored his 138th goal for Portugal during the match, helping to send the final against Spain to penalties. Portugal ended up winning the shootout, and Ronaldo—who is now 40 years old—watched the last moments from the bench, looking super emotional as his teammates celebrated.
2019 ➡️ 2025.
Ronaldo did it again 😂 pic.twitter.com/aNX6ND8mPJ
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 8, 2025
“This is amazing,” Ronaldo said. “I’m so happy for this team, for our families, and for everyone who supports us. My kids were here, my wife, my brother, my friends. Winning for Portugal means everything to me. I’ve won a lot with my clubs, but nothing beats this feeling. I even cried—there was so much happiness and relief!”
He explained that being Portugal’s captain makes him really proud and that lifting a trophy with the national team is the ultimate dream for any player.
Ronaldo’s future in football is still a bit of a mystery. He said he probably won’t play at the Club World Cup in the U.S. this month, even though some teams really want to sign him. His current team, Al-Nassr, is also trying to keep him, but he hasn’t made a final decision yet.
Right now, though, Ronaldo just wants to enjoy the moment. He played in the final even though he was injured, and he said, “This is for our country. Portugal may be small, but we dream big. For now, I need to rest and recover. I gave it my all for the national team, and it was totally worth it.”