Sports

Cristiano Ronaldo on Lamine Yamal: “It’s Not Me vs Him, It’s Portugal vs Spain”

Published

2 hours ago

08/06/2025

Portugal’s football legend, Cristiano Ronaldo, has praised Spain’s rising star Lamine Yamal ahead of the UEFA Nations League 2025 final between Portugal and Spain, which will take place at the Munich Football Arena on Sunday, June 8.

During a press conference on Saturday, the 40-year-old captain dismissed the idea that the final was just a face-off between him and the 17-year-old Spanish forward. Ronaldo emphasized that the match is about two strong teams, not just two individuals.

“There are different generations, one is coming in and another is exiting the stage. If you want to see me as another generation, then that’s OK,” Ronaldo said. “But when you talk about a clash between Cristiano and someone else, that’s not how it works. It’s one team versus another.”

Ronaldo scored the winning goal that helped Portugal defeat Germany in the semifinals. Meanwhile, Yamal was the star of Spain’s thrilling 5-4 win over France, scoring two goals and earning the Man of the Match title.

Despite the buzz around their matchup, Ronaldo downplayed the hype and instead focused on the strength of the Spanish squad.

“You’ve been talking about Lamine a lot and you’re right to do so because he’s very good,” he acknowledged. “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 strong and disciplined.”

Ronaldo also urged the media to give young players like Yamal space to grow, reminding them that the teenager 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,” he said. “For the good of football, we need to let him grow in his own way and enjoy the talent he has.”

Yamal has had a breakout season, helping Barcelona win the domestic league and cup double. He also lifted the Euro 2024 trophy with Spain last year in Germany, becoming one of the brightest young talents in world football—just like Ronaldo did as a teenager when he signed with Manchester United after impressing in a match against them at age 18.

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente echoed Ronaldo’s sentiments, highlighting Yamal’s calm and mature attitude.

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“He’s only 17, but very mature for his age. He’s well-prepared, intelligent, and lives life as if it’s all normal. That’s what we want for him,” De la Fuente said.

“He’s special. For some people, this would be a situation of maximum stress. But for him, he’s relaxed and in control – he handles the pressure really well.”

De la Fuente also took a moment to recognize Ronaldo’s impact on football, calling him “a legend” and “an example of the values I like: effort, work rate, sacrifice, improving every day and staying focused.”

Sunday’s final will be a battle of champions. Spain are the current title holders, having won the tournament in 2023. Portugal won the first-ever UEFA Nations League back in 2019. Both teams have strong winning records — Spain, for instance, has not lost a competitive match since March 2023 and has won 16 of their last 18 games.

Spanish forward Mikel Oyarzabal said the team is confident but not arrogant.

“We don’t think we are better than anyone,” he said. “But we believe in ourselves 100 percent and know we can compete in every game. Our level is very high.”

As fans look forward to the highly anticipated final, the match promises to be more than just a battle between youth and experience. With both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lamine Yamal in top form, it’s set to be a showdown filled with talent, leadership, and passion.