Spain had twice gone ahead. Many considered La Roja the favourite to win three consecutive titles for the national team. However, Nuno Mendez and Cristiano Ronaldo have shown signs of a comeback.
The score was tied at 2-2 and went into the penalty shootout. Gonzalo Ramos, Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes, Nuno Mendes and Ruben Neves scored for Portugal in the penalty shootout. Mikel Merino, Alex Baena and Isco scored for Spain with the first three shots. Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa saved Alvaro Morata’s fourth shot. Neves then scored with the fifth shot to secure Portugal’s victory.
With this victory, Portugal not only regained the UEFA Nations League title after two seasons, but also deprived Spain of a third consecutive international title. And thanks to that, Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni benefited. He is the only coach in football history to have won three consecutive titles with his national team.
As Argentina coach, Lionel Scaloni won the Copa America in 2021, the World Cup in 2022, and another Copa America in 2024. It’s a difficult feat to achieve a continental title, a World Cup, and another continental title with the same team, but Scaloni did just that for the Albiceleste.
Of course, Spain had achieved such a treble before. La Roja completed the treble cycle with Euro 2008, the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012. However, there were subtle differences in the stories of Argentina and Spain’s achievements.
Spain’s coach in 2010 and 2012 was Vicente del Bosque. However, in 2008, Luis Aragones was the coach. And Argentina won all the titles under coach Lionel Scaloni. The only coach to win three consecutive titles in international football is also the Argentine Scaloni. Luis de la Fuente could not touch Scaloni’s feat even if he came very close.
