CR7 in National Colours
Cristiano Ronaldo has extended his record-setting Portugal career so long he’s seeing a new generation of Spain players grow up to rule international soccer. “When I will feel like I’m not adding anymore, I’ll be the first to leave,” the 39-year-old Ronaldo said late Monday ahead of national team soccer resuming in Europe this week. “(My motivation) is to come to the national team and to win the Nations League.”

Portugal and Spain both play on Thursday to start a new UEFA Nations League less than two months after the European Championship final in Germany. Though Ronaldo has captained Portugal to win past editions of both competitions – the 2019 Nations League and Euro 2016 – Spain now holds both trophies sparked by an exciting wave of talent.

Lamine Yamal, the 17-year-old sensation of Euro 2024, and 20-year-old Gavi were not born when Ronaldo played in his first major tournament final, the Euro 2004 loss to Greece. Some of Ronaldo’s peak career years clashed with the great Spain team that won an unprecedented three straight titles at Euro 2008, the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012. In the last two of those, Spain eliminated Portugal in the knockout rounds.

Now Spain is back on top before the 2026 World Cup that could yet see a 41-year-old Ronaldo – and Lionel Messi who would turn 39 during the tournament in North America – play at a record sixth edition. When asked about his World Cup plans, Ronaldo said in translated comments, “I can’t give you an answer because I don’t know what will happen.” He continued, “I’ll go with a clear conscience as always because I know what I am. I know what I do and what I will continue to do.”

2026 World Cup is Coming Fast
The Nations League opens with the next World Cup very much in mind. European qualifying groups for the 2026 World Cup are set to be drawn in Zurich in December, likely with seedings decided by FIFA world rankings updated in November after Nations League group play ends. World Cup qualifying in Europe typically starts in March but the top-tier teams who advance to the Nations League Final Four next June are not free until September.

Those in the Final Four lineup must go into four-team World Cup qualifying groups, playing just six games in total from September-November 2025. Five-team qualifying groups must start in March or June. UEFA members have a slightly different path to the 2026 World Cup because they get 16 places in the expanded 48-team finals tournament hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The 12 group winners qualify direct to the World Cup. The 12 runners-up enter a 16-team playoffs in March 2026. Four more playoff entries are based on Nations League standings. The 16 playoff teams are drawn into four playoff brackets. Single-game semifinals and finals decide the four World Cup entries. By giving teams a qualifying route from the Nations League into World Cups and European Championships, UEFA aims to boost its third-tier national-team event.

Spain Mainly Reigns Again
Spain was the men’s soccer champion at Euro 2024, the Paris Olympics and the 2023 Nations League. The Nations League defense starts with two away games, on Thursday against Serbia in Belgrade against Switzerland in Geneva. Also in the group is Denmark. The main attraction since Euro 2024 is watching good friends Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams attacking teams from each wing.

Ageless Greats Back in Action
Not only have 39-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modriæ, who turns 39 on Monday, and 36-year-old Robert Lewandowski not yet retired from international soccer, they will meet in the same Nations League group. It is Scotland’s honor and challenge to face the veteran trio – combining for 542 national-team games and 239 goals heading into this week – six times in Group A1 through mid-November.

France – The Team to Watch
France captained by Kylian Mbappé has two standout games, hosting Italy in Paris and welcoming Belgium at Lyon. Israel completes the group and plays its first two games in neutral Hungary because of the ongoing conflict with Hamas. Israel’s home game against Italy is in Budapest, and its away game against Belgium is in Debrecen.

The Belgian socc’r federation said in July “no local authority in Belgium considers it possible” to stage a game against Israel for security reasons. Another high-profile game sees Euro 2024 semifinalist Netherlands hosting Germany.

Another Format Change
The multi-tiered Nations League format always was complex since launching in 2018 to give teams more competitive games against opponents of similar level. Top-tier teams in League A are competing to advance to the Final Four the following year, and avoid relegation to League B. England, Austria and Turkey are in the second tier.

Mid and low-ranked nations can win promotion and look for playoffs paths to reach a World Cup or European Championship. That is how Euro 2024 surprise Georgia qualified. The new feature for this edition is a quarterfinals round next March for eight top-tier nations, and promotion-relegation playoffs for 20 more teams.

Little Matter of 900 Goals
With his 900th career goal, Cristiano Ronaldo got the best of Luka Modric in the duel of veterans in the Nations League on Thursday. The 39-year-old Ronaldo became the first man to reach the 900-goal milestone in official matches for club and country by scoring in Portugal’s 2-1 win over Modric’s Croatia.

“It means a lot,” Ronaldo said. “It was a milestone I wanted to reach for a long time. I knew I would reach this number, because as I continue to play, it would happen naturally.” Spain was held at Serbia in its first match since winning the European Championship, while San Marino won a competitive game for the first time by beating Liechtenstein.

Ronaldo vs. Modric
Ronaldo and Modric, the former Real Madrid teammates, are nearing the end of their careers but are still going strong with their national teams. Ronaldo found the net in the 34th minute at the Stadium of Light in Lisbon to put Portugal up 2-1. He put his hands to his head and dropped to his knees during the celebration. “It was emotional because it’s a milestone,” he said. “It seems like any other milestone, but only I know, and the people around me, how hard it is to work every day, to be physically and psychologically fit, to score 900 goals. It’s a unique milestone in my career.”

It was Ronaldo’s 131st international career goal. He was coming off a disappointing performance at the European Championship, when he went scoreless in all five of Portugal’s games before it was eliminated in a penalty shootout by France in the quarterfinals. Diogo Dalot had put Portugal ahead seven minutes into the match, and his own-goal in the 41st made it 1-1.

Make that a record-extending 132 international goals for the five-time world player of the year after Ronaldo came on as a halftime substitute and slotted home an 88th-minute winner for Portugal in its 2-1 victory over Scotland in the Nations League on Sunday. 1000 career goals anyone?

Lewandowski Strikes
Another veteran who left his mark on Thursday was 36-year-old Robert Lewandowski, who scored from the penalty spot in Poland’s 3-2 win at Scotland. Poland’s winner came with another penalty kick – converted by Nicola Zalewski – seven minutes into stoppage time.

Spain Held
Spain was held to a 0-0 draw at Serbia in its first match since winning Euro 2024. La Roja has been the hottest team in Europe recently, having won the 2023 Nations League, Euro 2024 and the men’s gold medal at the Paris Olympics. Youngsters Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, the stars at Euro 2024, were kept in check from the start. Spain has another away game next, against Switzerland in Geneva.

Enduring Modric
Luka Modric turns 39 on Monday but, like Ronaldo, remains as integral as ever for his country. The Real Madrid midfielder again demonstrated his enduring quality by clipping home an exquisite free kick from the edge of the box in Croatia’s 1-0 win over Poland.

It was Modric’s 27th goal in 180 appearances for his country, which left him tied with former Spain defender Sergio Ramos as the second highest-capped European players in men’s international soccer – only behind Ronaldo with 214. Robert Lewandowski, another veteran at age 36, hit the goal frame for Poland, which beat Scotland 3-2 in the first round of Nations League group games.

Eriksson Tribute
Swedish soccer fans paid tribute to one of the country’s most famous coaches – and then celebrated the further blossoming of the team’s new strikeforce. There was a minute’s silence before Sweden’s home match with Estonia in honor of Sven-Goran Eriksson, who died on Aug. 26 after battling cancer. An image of Eriksson was shown on the big screens in the Strawberry Arena just outside Stockholm.

Sweden won 3-0, with Viktor Gyokeres – with two goals – and Alexander Isak scoring. They also each scored in a 3-1 win in Azerbaijan, with the Swedes showing improved form after missing out on qualification for both the World Cup in 2022 and this year’s Euros.

About the writer
Shahzeb Ali Rizvi is a sports aficionado with a keen eye for the intricacies of cricket and football. He can be reached at [email protected]