Cristiano Ronaldo, the captain of Portugal, became emotional and cried with happiness after his team won their second Nations League title on Sunday. He said that winning trophies for his country means more to him than any club success. Ronaldo scored his 138th international goal in the second half, helping Portugal draw 2-2 with Spain and take the match to penalties. Although the 40-year-old was substituted before the shootout, he watched from the sidelines as Portugal scored all five penalties to secure the win.
Cristiano Ronaldo, who has won the Champions League five times, was in tears after the big win — his third major trophy with Portugal, adding to his victories at Euro 2016 and the Nations League in 2019.
“It’s such a happy moment,” Ronaldo told Sport TV. “This win means a lot — for this team, for our families. My kids were here, along with my wife, my brother, and my friends.”
“Winning for Portugal always feels different. I’ve won many trophies with my clubs, but nothing compares to winning with the national team. These are tears of joy — it feels like I’ve done my duty and now I’m just really happy.”
“Playing for Portugal always brings special emotions. Being captain of this group makes me proud. Lifting a trophy for the country is the best feeling you can have as a player.”
Cristiano Ronaldo’s future in football is still unclear. Recently, he said he does not plan to take part in the upcoming Club World Cup in the United States, even though some clubs from the 32-team tournament are interested in signing him.
The Al-Nassr striker mentioned he has received several offers from clubs in the U.S. Meanwhile, Al-Nassr’s sporting director, Fernando Hierro, shared last month that they are in talks to extend Ronaldo’s contract, but other teams are also trying to sign the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
For now, Ronaldo is more focused on enjoying his recent victory. He played in the final match despite having an injury and expressed how proud he felt.
“It’s a beautiful feeling,” he said. “This win is for our country. We are a small nation, but we have big dreams.”
When asked about his next move, Ronaldo said he’s only thinking about the near future. “Now it’s time to rest and recover properly. I gave everything, even with the injury… I pushed myself because when you play for your country, you have to give your all.”
