At age 40, Cristiano Ronaldo won potentially his final trophy — and he did it for his country. With every winner comes a loser, and this time, it’s the kid who rarely sees defeat: Lamine Yamal.
It sounds like it meant everything to him. Ronaldo even said on record, “If I had to break a leg, I would.” That’s the level of passion he brought to this final. In the end, it was the 40-year-old legend who was crying tears of joy — not the runners-up on the sideline.
This marks Portugal’s third major trophy in history, and Cristiano Ronaldo has been the driving force behind all three. From EURO 2016 to the 2019 Nations League, and now in 2025, his leadership has sealed his legendary international résumé.
Being subbed off in extra time and playing an average game, there’s not much to highlight from Lamine Yamal’s performance — except a rare sense of disappointment. For someone used to dominating, this loss hits differently.
Yamal currently sits second in the Ballon d’Or odds, and a win here would have certainly boosted his chances. Instead, Ousmane Dembélé, who leads the rankings, can now sleep easy knowing he’s still ahead. The loss isn’t a failure — it’s a learning moment. Yamal is only 17, and this final might become the fuel for his next chapter.
Ronaldo is heading back to the Saudi Pro League, having recently re-signed with Al Nassr. Rumors of him joining a Club World Cup contender have been shut down. This win might have been his last major international appearance, but it couldn’t have ended on a more poetic note.
He’s proven time and again that age is just a number. While some questioned his ability to still compete at the highest level, Ronaldo reminded everyone why he’s one of the greatest ever.
Lamine Yamal is just starting his journey toward greatness, while Cristiano Ronaldo is gracefully concluding his. This trophy means more to the aging icon than it ever could to the teenage phenom — but that’s the beauty of this moment. It’s a day Portugal will never forget, and one that Yamal will carry with him, having faced the legend in a final for the first time.
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