Cristiano Ronaldo’s Heartfelt Reflection on Title Victory: ‘There’s Nothing Greater Than Winning for Portugal’

Cristiano Ronaldo, the captain of Portugal, was overwhelmed with emotion as he celebrated their second Nations League title on Sunday, emphasising that winning with his national team eclipses any achievements he has garnered at the club level.

The 40-year-old forward scored his 138th international goal in the second half, which brought the final against Spain to a tense penalty shootout after a thrilling 2-2 draw. Ronaldo, who was substituted, watched from the sidelines as Portugal flawlessly converted all five penalty kicks to secure the victory.

This victory, which brought tears to the eyes of the five-time Champions League winner, marked Ronaldo’s third major international trophy, joining his 2016 European Championship and 2019 Nations League titles.

“What an incredible feeling,” Ronaldo said in an interview with Sport TV. “Firstly, this is for our generation, who truly deserved a title of this significance, and for our families. My kids, my wife, my brother, and friends were all here.”

“Winning for Portugal holds a unique significance. I have a number of titles with my clubs, but nothing compares to lifting a trophy for my country. It’s a release of emotions—duty fulfilled and overwhelming joy.”

“When you mention Portugal, it stirs a special sentiment. Leading this generation as captain fills me with pride. Achieving a title is always the ultimate goal for a national team.”

While Ronaldo’s future is somewhat uncertain, he revealed last week that he doesn’t intend to participate in the Club World Cup in the United States later this month, despite interest from several clubs involved in the tournament.

The Al-Nassr forward mentioned that he had received numerous offers from teams aiming to bring him to the U.S. His club’s sporting director, Fernando Hierro, commented last month about ongoing discussions concerning a contract extension with Ronaldo, noting the competitive landscape with other clubs eager to secure the five-time Ballon d’Or recipient.

For the time being, Ronaldo is solely concentrating on relishing his latest achievement, having played in the final while nursing an injury.

“It’s a remarkable feeling,” he shared. “This victory is for our nation. We may be a small population, but we harbour immense ambition.”

“The future is all about the near term. It’s essential now to rest properly. I dealt with the injury, and I gave my all… I pushed hard because representing the national team demands that level of commitment.”