Ronaldo, at 40, tore through the 2025 UEFA Nations League like a man on a mission, netting 8 goals in 9 matches — only one from the spot — and dragging Portugal to the final.
With his 138th international goal, he equalized against Spain before Portugal bagged the trophy on penalties.
That goal also pushed his career total to 938. Yet the spotlight barely caught him. The Nations League still doesn’t carry the weight of a Euro or World Cup.
Plus, the media buzzed louder for Spain’s 17-year-old Yamal, framing the final as a face-off between rising star and seasoned GOAT.
Ronaldo’s move to Al-Nassr didn’t help either — being out of Europe’s top five leagues dims headlines.
Throw in two decades of breaking records and some fans seem numb to his brilliance.
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But the numbers don’t lie: 732 minutes played, 62.1 km covered, 31.67 km/h top speed, 87.56% pass accuracy, 38 shots, one assist — and not a single red card.
Despite discomfort in the warm-up, he played 88 minutes in the final and summed it up post-game: “If I had to break a leg for the national team, I would.”
While social media split between praise and indifference, his work rate screamed otherwise.
Legacy? Sealed. From scoring in five World Cups to lifting this Nations League twice, he’s done it all.
And with the 2026 World Cup ahead, don’t count him out yet. He might not play every minute, but he’ll still show up when it matters.
That’s vintage Ronaldo — always hungry, always ready.
