Experience vs Hype: Lessons from Ronaldo’s Masterclass Against Spain
It was no surprise news—Portugal won the Nations League yesterday by beating Spain in a dramatic penalty shootout.
It was a tough and emotional battle between two great footballing nations. Many expected Spain to win, but as they say in football: it’s not over until it’s over.
There are a few key lessons we can learn from yesterday’s match.
Before kickoff, attention had shifted from the classic Spain vs Portugal rivalry to Lamine Yamal vs Cristiano Ronaldo—the future vs the past. People were expecting Yamal to embarrass Ronaldo and carry Spain to victory. But we all saw what happened: Yamal was completely contained by Nuno Mendes and had little impact on the game.
This shows something important: when you’re winning, be careful of the praise. People will hype you up and make you think you’re the best of the best. And while Lamine Yamal clearly has great talent and represents the future, Ronaldo represents experience. Skill and strength are important, but you can never underestimate the value of experience. So when you’re doing well, never let praise make you disrespect those who came before you.
Ronaldo has been blamed for everything going wrong at both his club and his national team. Many critics still wonder why he’s playing at 40. But they forget: he continues to score crucial goals. There’s a difference between a player who has one great game, and a player like Ronaldo who has delivered consistently for nearly two decades. In a tournament full of stars like Mbappé and other young talents, Ronaldo is still among the top scorers—only one behind Viktor Gyökeres.
He deserves more respect.
To Ronaldo: Remember, it’s normal to face hate—especially when you’re still at the top. Many people wish they were in your position, but since they can’t be, they resort to criticism. That’s just part of being great.
But let’s be honest: if the younger Portuguese players were truly stepping up, Ronaldo might already be on the bench. The fact that he’s still so crucial to the team says a lot—about his commitment, his quality, and the gap that still exists between him and the next generation.
It’s time for the young players to rise—not just with talent, but with consistency, leadership, and responsibility. Ronaldo has carried Portugal for years. He’s still delivering, but the future needs to start showing up now. Until then, don’t be surprised when a 40-year-old legend continues to carry the flag.
Ronaldo has perfected the art of handling pressure and silencing his doubters. Did you notice how Saudi clubs are begging him to stay, despite interest from other big names? That shows how much value he still brings to football, even at this age.
And let’s not forget Coach Manitez. He stood by Ronaldo when others doubted. He believed in him, ignored the noise, and was rewarded with results. If he had listened to the critics, Ronaldo might’ve been forced out of the Portugal team. This is why you need people in your life who believe in you—people who will fight for you when your haters want to see you fall.
Kehinde Olagbenjo
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