Cristiano Ronaldo won the third major international honour for his country after he led Portugal to UEFA Nations League victory on June 8.

Portugal beat their neighbours, Spain, on post-match penalties in the final held at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany.

The two sides had played out to a two-all draw in normal and extra time, forcing the dead-ball showdown. Portugal's goalkeeper Diogo Costa emerged the hero, saving Alvaro Morata's tame effort before Ruben Neves scored the winning kick.

Ronaldo was beside himself with joy as tears flowed freely after the final whistle. The 40-year-old was not on the pitch as he picked up an injury in the 88th minute.

Just like when his side won Euro 2016, the former Manchester United forward was forced to watch from the bench as his teammates delivered another trophy.

"I had already felt it during the warm-up, I had been feeling it for some time. But for the national team, if I had to break a leg, I would. It’s a title, I had to play, and I gave my all, I went as far as I could. I helped with a goal," he said as quoted by Record.

He later received the trophy from UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin before hoisting it in front of his enthusiastic teammates.

However, Ronaldo and his side won't be allowed to keep that trophy and will instead be given a full-size replica, thanks to UEFA rules.

Article 10 of the UEFA Nations League rule book has a series of strict trophy rules that the winning nation must adhere to. For starters, the governing body has two trophies, an original one used for presentation purposes but which is retained by UEFA. The winning team gets a replica.

"The original trophy, which is used for the official presentation ceremony at the final and at other official events approved by UEFA, remains in UEFA’s keeping and ownership at all times. A full-size replica trophy, the UEFA Nations League winners’ trophy, is awarded to the winning association."

Once handed the replica, it cannot leave the country of the winning team without prior permission from UEFA.

"Replica trophies awarded to winners of the competition (past and current) must remain within the relevant association’s control at all times and may not leave the association’s country without UEFA’s prior written consent.

The rules also prohibit the winning team from granting third-party access to the trophy

"Associations must not permit a replica trophy to be used in any context where a third party is granted visibility or in any other way which could lead to an association between any third party and the trophy and/or the competition."

The rules go further to state that the winning team gets 40 medals with no extra ones provided, unlike in the club competitions like the UEFA Europa League.

Any country that wins the trophy three times in a row or five different times gets special recognition. Portugal are now the most successful team in the competition with two wins. Spain and France have one win each.

In a related report, Marc Cucurella was booed every time he touched the ball vs Portugal.

The Chelsea fullback was treated to a harsh reception in the German stadium until the last minute of extra time.

The boos stem from a controversial decision in 2024 during the Euros quarter-finals against Germany

Source: TUKO.co.ke