Although Spain controlled the first half and much of the second half of the 2025 UEFA Nations League final, Portugal flipped the script by shutting down the Spanish midfield. Nuno Mendes emerged as the standout performer, asserting his dominance throughout the game. Despite Spain’s struggles to regain control, head coach Luis de la Fuente made the controversial decision to substitute Lamine Yamal. After the match, he addressed the media to explain the reasoning behind his decision.
“He is tired because logically there was little rest, he had a very hard year, he is 17 years old, we must also dose him when it corresponds, he is one more player in this fantastic national team… We wanted to give a little bit of energy to the game. Yeremy and Baena gave us that control of the game that we needed. We wanted to reactivate energy in the whole group, but especially on the wings,” Spain coach Luis de la Fuente explained after the final against Portugal.
Considering the high expectations from fans, Lamine Yamal left many disappointed. They expected him to deliver either an assist or a goal. However, he failed to shine, producing only two shots on target in 105 minutes. His influence in attack remained limited throughout. Moreover, he completed just 21 progressive passes out of a total of 44. Still, his performance was not poor. On the contrary, he played a key role in wide areas.
Meanwhile, criticism on social media came quickly. Some fans described Lamine’s performance as “phantom-like,” saying he did not make an impact. This is exactly the kind of pressure Cristiano Ronaldo warned about. Earlier in the morning, Ronaldo said the youngster needed freedom to play without expectations.
After all, Yamal is only 17 years old. Yet he is already being asked to lead a Spanish national team. While he may be the most talented player, he is also the youngest and least experienced in these high-stakes matches.
Cristiano Ronaldo praises Lamine Yamal after leading Portugal to 2025 Nations League title
Amid the criticism surrounding Lamine Yamal’s performance against Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo chose a different approach. Rather than piling on, he offered praise and focused on one key point: “He is going to win many collective and individual titles. He is 17 years old and I repeat, he is a boy with a lot of room for progression. He is a phenomenon, but leave him alone that I ask because he has a very long career and he will surely win the Nations League many times.“
One journalist asked Ronaldo whether, if he were coaching Spain, he would have subbed out Lamine Yamal. But instead of stirring up controversy, Cristiano kept his response brief and firm, leaning on his experience as a veteran.
”Your coach (Luis de la Fuente) is a phenomenon. He knows better than me, I am not a coach. You have already won 1,000 competitions, this coach has already won several things for Spain… If he makes the decision it is because it was to improve the team. As I was also substituted,” he said.