What did Cristiano Ronaldo & Lamine Yamal say about each other ahead of Nations League final?

Both stars will hope to lead their respective sides to their second Nations League trophy.

The 40-year-old player, Cristiano Ronaldo, will face the world’s top teenager, Lamine Yamal, in tonight’s UEFA Nations League final.

Both players have scored in their semi-final victories. Yamal’s Spain will play Ronaldo’s Portugal in Munich for the trophy tonight.

It is the inaugural occasion that five-time winner Cristiano Ronaldo, whose contract with Saudi club Al-Nassr expires this summer, will meet Barcelona’s Yamal, who is being considered as a possible Ballon d’Or winner this season.

In the lead-up to this match, both players were questioned about one another.

Cristiano Ronaldo, 40, said:

“This kid has been doing things really well at a club and national team that help him very much. It’s a great atmosphere for him to show his quality.”

“Let him grow, do not put him under pressure so we can enjoy a talent like this for many years. I would like to take pressure off him and leave him alone. He’s got plenty of talent.”

Yamal, who turns 18 on 13 July, said:

“He’s a football legend. I, like all the players, have huge respect for Cristiano. This is the kind of game I want to play, to prove who I am.”

As a teenager, Yamal has accomplished greater things than Ronaldo. But will he likely play as long as the Portugal captain? Only time will tell.

Despite playing in the Saudi Pro League, Ronaldo is still a prolific player for both his country and club at the age of 40. This summer, he is expected to sign a new contract with Al-Nassr.

In men’s international football, his 137th goal was the game-winning goal in the Nations League semi-final matchup against Germany. He has 937 career goals overall, which is a record. He plans to reach 1,000 in two years.

His consistency is also astounding; in 2022–2023, he scored 17 goals for Al-Nassr and Manchester United combined, which was his least productive season in the previous 19 years.

Now, Ronaldo will once again have a chance to demonstrate that he still has what it takes to lead his national team to the Nations League trophy tonight in Munich.

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