Team India’s pacer Mohammed Siraj shared a one-word reaction to football icon Cristiano Ronaldo after Portugal edged past Spain in a penalty shootout to clinch the 2024-25 UEFA Nations League title. The final was held on Sunday, June 8, at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany.

Spain took an early lead through Martín Zubimendi, who found the net in the 21st minute. Portugal hit back just five minutes later, with Nuno Mendes scoring in the 26th minute. Mikel Oyarzabal then restored Spain’s advantage on the stroke of halftime with a goal in the 45th minute.

In the second half, Portuguese captain Cristiano Ronaldo equalized in the 61st minute, sending the match into extra time. With neither side able to break the deadlock, Portugal triumphed 5-3 in the penalty shootout to lift the Nations League title.

Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj shared an Instagram story featuring Cristiano Ronaldo in tears of joy after winning the title. Alongside the emotional moment, Siraj wrote:

“Champion.”

Meanwhile, Ronaldo finished second on the tournament’s top scorers list with eight goals, just behind Sweden’s Viktor Gyökeres, who led with nine.

Mohammed Siraj is set to return to action in the upcoming Test series against England

Mohammed Siraj will return to action as India face England in the first Test of the five-match series, beginning on Friday, June 20, at Headingley, Leeds. The 31-year-old fast bowler has played 36 Tests for India, claiming 100 wickets at an average of 30.74, including three five-wicket hauls, with his best figures being 6/15 against South Africa in 2024.

Here is the 18-member Indian squad for the England series: Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (vc & wk), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, and Kuldeep Yadav.