João Neves Minimizes Individual Duel in Nations League Final
Portuguese midfielder João Neves has downplayed the individual matchup between Lamine Yamal and Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of Sunday’s UEFA Nations League final. The match, which pits Portugal against Spain at the Allianz Arena, marks the first encounter between Barcelona’s young star, Yamal, and Ronaldo, the all-time leading scorer in men’s international football with 137 goals.
Neves, along with three other Portuguese players, contributed to Paris Saint-Germain achieving a historic treble this season, winning Ligue 1, the Coupe de France, and the Champions League. Meanwhile, Ronaldo, at 40 years old, remains a significant force on the field. The Al Nassr captain was, for the second consecutive season, the top scorer in the Saudi Pro League. Yamal, at 17 years old, has had a sensational start to his career. After playing a vital role in Spain’s triumph at the Euro 2024, he won LaLiga, the Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup with Barça this season. He already has six goals in 20 appearances for the Spanish national team, two of them in the 5-4 victory over France in the Nations League semi-final.“I don’t see the match as a Cristiano Ronaldo against Yamal. I see it as Portugal against Spain. It’s not just Yamal in the Spanish team, they are very strong collectively. And we are too. It’s not Cristiano, it’s the national team…”, declared Neves in the press conference on Friday.
João Neves
Yamal also downplayed the opportunity to face Ronaldo.
