The UEFA Nations League Final will feature two of the world's top teams in Spain and Portugal.

At age 40, Cristiano Ronaldo continues to make an impact on the game. He hasn't shown many signs of slowing down as he has Portugal on the cusp of the trophy. He'll be facing a Spanish side led by 17-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal, who looks set to follow in Ronaldo's footsteps as the game's next great superstar.

Portugal won the first Nations League title in 2019, vanquishing England in that final. In this edition, Portugal rallied past Germany in a 2-1 semifinal win on Wednesday in Munich with Ronaldo scoring the decider in the second half. That win also marked Portugal's first win in Germany since 2000.

For Spain, it's the team's third consecutive appearance in the final, having lost 2021 to France before beating Croatia on penalties in 2023. In this edition, Spain has gone unbeaten in their last ten Nations League matches outside the country, including Thursday's 5-4 semifinal win over France in Stuttgart, Germany. Yamal had two goals in the game – including the eventual match-winner on a penalty kick.

Portugal's squad included three members of this year's Champions League winners, Nuno Mendes, Vitinha and Joao Neves, all of whom played against Germany, although Neves appeared in the unfamiliar right-back position.

With a midfield that's led by Bruno Fernandes and Bernado Silva, there is plenty of playmaking ability and creativity. It'll be worth keeping an eye then if Martinez slots in Vitinha into the starting lineup.

Martinez needs to make a trade-off. Facing Spain's talented midfielders and forwards, he must choose between fluency and intensity.

Under manager Luis de la Fuente, there is an effective mix of youth and veterans that has allowed this team to seemingly combine Spain's trademark possession-based playmaking in the midfield with some high-pressing attack at the top.

They have a full squad and no new injuries. Martin Zubimundi has done a good job in handing over the Ballon d'Or winner Rodri during his absence. Playing in the pivot position, the Real Sociedad man has remained steady in possession and kept his own against a tough France squad in the semifinals.

The focus is still on Lamine Yamal. At the age of 17, he played more than 100 games for Barcelona and scored 15 goals in 20 games for the national team. He showed his scoring prowess all year for Barcelona and has continued to do so on the international level.

It’s been quite the few years for Luis de la Fuente, who guided Spain to Euro 2024 glory last summer and won the Nations League in 2023.

Now seems to be the time to defend the UEFA Nations League.

Possible starting lineup

Portugal: Costa, Nuno Mendes, Dias, Inácio, Semedo, João Neves, Vitinha, Neto, Fernandes, Silva, Ronaldo

Spain: Simon, Cucurella, Le Normand, Huijsen, Porro, Pedri, Zubimundi, Ruiz, Nico Williams, Merino, Yamal