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Portugal midfielder Joao Neves has refused to acknowledge the upcoming UEFA Nations League final as a confrontation between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lamine Yamal. A Selecao are set to face Spain at the Allianz Arena on Sunday, June 8.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lamine Yamal both excelled during the semi-finals. The former netted the winner during Portugal's 2-1 win over Germany (June 4). On the other hand, Yamal scored a brilliant brace as Spain secured a narrow 5-4 victory over France (June 5).
Ronaldo and Yamal are both expected to feature, which would make the Nations League final their first-ever encounter on the pitch. The 40-year-old has already established himself as arguably one of the greatest players of all time. Meanwhile, the latter has flourished for Spain and Barcelona, despite being only 17 years old.
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Neves was recently asked about his opinion on Cristiano Ronaldo's confrontation with Lamine Yamal, to which he replied (via O Jogo):
"I don't look at the game like that, it's Portugal against Spain, it's not just Yamal in their team and us too, it's not Cristiano, it's the Portuguese team."
Ronaldo will be aiming to secure his third trophy with Portugal, having guided his nation to Euro 2016 and 2019 Nations League glory. Meanwhile, Yamal will be targeting further success after helping Spain win Euro 2024 last summer.
"He will be the best player of this new generation" - Cristiano Ronaldo's comments on Lamine Yamal resurface ahead of Nations League final
Cristiano Ronaldo will be aiming to utilize his experience to overcome Lamine Yamal and Spain in the UEFA Nations League final. However, just eight months prior, the Al-Nassr superstar boldly predicted Yamal to become the best player of the new generation.
During a segment on his YouTube channel, Cristiano Ronaldo stated (via Daily Mirror):
"He's got a huge potential. I see a lot of talent. But let's see during his journey what's going to happen. I think he'll make it. He will be the best player of this new generation. He needs luck because he is very young. I hope he doesn't have any problems. He is in a context that helps him a lot. Spain's national team is really good."
Since making his debut for Barcelona at the age of 15, Yamal has excelled on the pitch, recording 25 goals and 34 assists in 106 appearances across all competitions. He has also been pivotal for Spain, bagging six goals and nine assists in 20 appearances across competitions.
Moreover, Lamine Yamal had an excellent season, helping Barcelona win three trophies, including the LaLiga title. He is currently one of the favorites to win the 2025 Ballon d'Or.
