Cristiano Ronaldo has downplayed any notion of private rivalry forward of Portugal’s Nations League ultimate conflict with Spain, the place he’ll face teenage sensation Lamine Yamal for the primary time.
“There are completely different generations, one is coming in and one other is exiting the stage. If you wish to see me as one other technology, then that’s OK,” mentioned the 40-year-old Portugal captain.
“While you speak about a conflict between Cristiano and another person, that’s not the way it works. The media all the time attempt to hype issues up, which is a standard factor, however it’s one staff versus one other.”
Regardless of the media narrative, Sunday’s match in Munich is shaping as much as be a symbolic passing of the torch: Ronaldo, arguably the best participant of his technology, faces Yamal, extensively thought-about the brightest teenage star in world soccer.
Each forwards discovered the web of their respective semi-finals, establishing this extremely anticipated ultimate. Yamal helped Spain to an exhilarating 5-4 win over France, whereas Ronaldo scored the decisive objective in Portugal’s victory over Germany.
For Yamal, the ultimate comes simply days earlier than his 18th birthday. Already being touted as a Ballon d’Or contender, the Barcelona winger has loved a shocking begin to his profession, each at membership and worldwide degree.
É por nós. É por vocês. É por Portugal. Amanhã é dia de fazer história outra vez 🇵🇹 pic.twitter.com/p1SgCGVWxo
— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) June 7, 2025
Each gamers have spoken about one another within the lead-up to the match.
Ronaldo mentioned of {the teenager}: “This child has been doing issues very well at a membership and nationwide staff that assist him very a lot.
“It’s a terrific ambiance for him to point out his high quality.
“Let him develop, don’t put him beneath stress so we are able to get pleasure from a expertise like this for a few years.
“I want to take stress off him and depart him alone. He’s acquired loads of expertise.”
Yamal was equally respectful, saying: “He’s a soccer legend. I, like all of the gamers, have enormous respect for Cristiano.
“That is the type of recreation I need to play, to show who I’m.”
