Move aside Lamine Yamal – Cristiano Ronaldo seizes moment by any means possible

 How seriously should we be taking the Nations League? Not an easy question to answer for the English, given their only involvement in the finals came in the distant past of 2019. This was a time when the country still basked in the warm glow of Dele Alli’s limitless promise, a resurgent Sweet Caroline and Gareth Southgate’s snazzy waistcoat.

Portugal have more experience as winners of that 2019 tournament, a title they regained after beating Spain on penalties on Sunday night in Munich. All the talk before this end-of-season shindig was about football’s emerging heroes: Lamine Yamal, Désiré Doué, Florian Wirtz. Somehow, as he has since before that new class was born, Cristiano Ronaldo seized the moment.

The threat of Yamal upstaging a man 23 years his senior seemed profound early on, with the ball being inexorably drawn back to his wing. His dangerous cross was diverted optimistically by Rúben Dias, leading to Spain’s opening goal.

But if Yamal exerts a magnetic influence on possession then Ronaldo has a similar ability to draw attention to himself. At first he was constrained to playing some of his old hits, decorative stepovers and passive-aggressive gesticulations towards team-mates who had disappointed him. Gradually his influence became clearer.

The pinch

Portugal equalise through Nuno Mendes but what’s a season-ending football festival without a break to assess some VAR footage? Ronaldo appears offside in the build-up but on closer inspection had timed his run perfectly. He spends the goal-approval waiting period standing slightly too close to referee Sandro Schaerer and Spain’s Mikel Oyarzabal. When the goal is confirmed, Ronaldo celebrates with a gloriously spiteful pinch of Oyarzabal’s ear. Someone’s been reading the Vinnie Jones guide to aggravating opponents. There really is nothing to do in Saudi Arabia.

The press

This being a special occasion, Ronaldo decides to try something he has not attempted since his early Juventus days. Yamal faces up to Portugal’s tightly-packed defence, but who is that arriving from out of the frame on a rare excursion into his own team’s half? It’s the lesser-spotted tracking-back Ronaldo and Yamal, clearly as shocked as the rest of us, is hassled out of possession. Pocket picked, possession retained, job done. Now Ronaldo must rest. Expect a repeat performance at next summer’s World Cup.

The goal

The second half begins with Ronaldo playing as effectively for Portugal as he did for most of Euro 2024. If you cannot remember any specific contributions it is instructive. At times, especially when dropping deeper and attempting to make the ball stick with his back to goal, he looks comprehensively out-muscled by the lithe twentysomethings playing for Spain. Then Mendes races past a fading Yamal, his cross is deflected towards the back post and Ronaldo deploys his strength when it counts, expertly guiding Marc Cucurella out of the way before volleying in from close range.

The chat

Ronaldo’s goal equalises after Oyarzabal made it 2-1 shortly before half time. As ever with Portugal you suspect the team talk is now a Cristiano Ronaldo feat. [insert current manager here] arrangement. More fuel for the fire with the shots of Ronaldo giving manager Roberto Martinez the traditional mouth-obscured motivational speech during a break in play. He is substituted shortly afterwards, but you imagine that is mostly his decision.

The sign

Oh look, a middle-aged chap in the terraces has brought a cardboard sign with him. Probably just an innocent appeal for a shirt for his children? “Cristiano,” it reads. No problems so far! “Please let me touch you.” Ah, okay. Well, afraid this is now a matter for the police.