Lamine Yamal Loses Most Duels, Nuno Mendes the Dribbling King in Portugal vs Spain Final

The 2025 UEFA Nations League final between Portugal and Spain featured a fascinating duel between two young stars: Lamine Yamal and Nuno Mendes. In this match, Lamine Yamal lost more individual duels than any other player, coming out second best in 10 out of 17 duels during his 105 minutes on the pitch, despite providing the cross for Spain’s opening goal in the first half1.

On the other hand, Nuno Mendes delivered an outstanding performance on Portugal’s left flank. The Paris Saint-Germain full-back not only neutralized Yamal’s threat but also completed the most and most successful dribbles in the match. Mendes was named Player of the Final for his all-round contribution, both offensively and defensively, including scoring the equalizer and playing a key role in Portugal’s second goal.

Mendes’ impressive display in both defense and attack was a decisive factor in Portugal’s victory over Spain, further cementing his reputation as one of the world’s best left-backs today