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Cristiano Ronaldo acknowledged the generational gap with Spain’s Lamine Yamal ahead of the Nations League final, emphasizing team effort over individual focus.
Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal (AP)
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo acknowledged that he belongs to “another generation” compared to Spain’s rising star, Lamine Yamal, but emphasized that Sunday’s Nations League final is more than just a contest between the two players.
The final in Munich is being seen as a showdown between the 40-year-old veteran Ronaldo, one of football’s biggest names, and the 17-year-old Yamal, a highly promising young talent.
Ronaldo scored the decisive goal to help Portugal defeat Germany and advance to the final, while Yamal was named man-of-the-match after scoring twice in Spain’s thrilling 5-4 semi-final victory over France.
However, Ronaldo argued that the focus on the two individuals is exaggerated, calling Spain “maybe the best national team in the world.”
“There are different generations, one coming in and another exiting the stage. If you see me as another generation, that’s fine.
“When you talk about a clash between Cristiano and someone else, that’s not how it works. The media always try to hype things up, which is normal, but it’s one team versus another team.”
“You’ve been talking a lot about Lamine, and rightly so because he’s very good,” Ronaldo told journalists, adding, “but I’d like to talk about the team.
“They’ve got Nico Williams, great midfielders like Pedri, and their coach, Luis de la Fuente, is very good, very strong, and very disciplined.”
Portugal last defeated their Iberian neighbors in a competitive fixture 21 years ago, in a match that Ronaldo started.
Like Yamal, Ronaldo made a significant impact at a young age.
At just 18, Ronaldo impressed so much for his boyhood club Sporting in a 3-1 friendly win over Manchester United in Lisbon that the English club decided to buy him, bringing him to Old Trafford less than a week later.
Like a young Ronaldo, Yamal has consistently impressed since making his breakthrough, winning a league and cup double with Barcelona this season after lifting the Euro 2024 title in Germany last summer.
The Portuguese veteran asked the media to allow the teenager to grow and improve without pressure, reminding them that the Spanish star “with funny hair” is just “three years older than my son.”
“The kid has been doing very well, but what I ask is for you to let him grow, not put him under pressure. For the good of football, we need to let him grow in his own way and enjoy the talent he has.”
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said Yamal is “only 17 but very mature for his age. Well-prepared, intelligent—he lives life as if it’s all normal, and that’s what we want for him.”
De la Fuente mentioned the national team is “trying to walk alongside Yamal in his education,” but added, “you’d be surprised, shocked, how calm he is.
“He’s special. For some people, this would be a situation of maximum stress. But for him, he’s relaxed, he’s in control—he masters the situation.”
The coach also praised Ronaldo, calling him “a legend in football and an example of the values I like: effort, work rate, sacrifice, getting better every day, and never letting your guard down.
“Portugal are led by a footballer who will go down in history with an indelible legacy.”
Both Spain and Portugal have previously won the Nations League. Spain are the current champions from their 2023 victory, while Portugal won the inaugural tournament in 2019.
Spain have won 16 and drawn two of their past 18 fixtures—they haven’t lost a competitive match since March 2023.
Spain forward Mikel Oyarzabal told reporters his team “do not think we are better than anyone,” but “we trust ourselves 100 percent and know we can compete in every game.
“We’ve shown that over the years. Our level is very high.”
(With AFP Inputs)
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A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you live updates, breaking news, opinions and photos from the wide world of sport. Follow @News18Sports
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