Portugal's Mendes: I 'cancelled out' Yamal in final

Nuno Mendes backed Paris Saint-Germain teammate Ousmane Dembélé for this year's Ballon d'Or aft saying helium "cancelled out" Lamine Yamal during Portugal's UEFA Nations League last triumph against Spain.

A 5-3 punishment shootout win, pursuing a 2-2 gully successful Munich, sealed triumph for Portugal and a tearful Cristiano Ronaldo, who had earlier limped retired of the crippled owed to injury.

Mendes was named Player of the Match aft an outstanding crippled for Roberto Martinez's squad successful which helium scored his team's opening extremity earlier dominating successful his one-on-one clash with teenage prima Yamal.

And erstwhile asked astir his relation successful Portugal's win, Mendes admitted helium had won his duel against Yamal earlier tipping Dembele to pip the Barcelona youngster to the Ballon d'Or.

"It was a clash [with Yamal] similar galore others I person had during the season," Mendes said. "I person faced up to galore large players, precise technically skilled players who tin marque a difference, but contiguous I cancelled retired Lamine and [did] not fto him bash what helium does best.

"This helped the squad and I americium blessed I helped the squad to triumph this trophy. It's each astir being consistent. I person played galore bully games and it's astir the enactment I bash individually and with the coaches astatine PSG and Portugal.

"The Ballon d'Or? I play with Ousmane [Dembele] and helium had a fantastic season, Lamine besides had a fantastic season. But Ousmane volition beryllium successful the Club World Cup and Lamine won't, truthful I'm precise blessed for Ousmane.

"He had a batch of injuries astatine Barca earlier arriving astatine PSG, but helium is an astonishing player. I similar him precise overmuch arsenic a subordinate and a man.

"I privation him the champion for the Ballon d'Or and I and his teammates volition assistance him get there."

Mendes, meanwhile, paid tribute to Ronaldo aft the 40-year-old scored the 2nd equalising extremity connected the mode to Portugal's Nations League triumph. The erstwhile Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus guardant is expected to stay with Saudi Pro League squad Al Nassr up of adjacent year's World Cup, but contempt his age, Mendes said Portugal inactive request Ronaldo.

"We're precise blessed for Cristiano to triumph different title," Mendes said. "He helps america connected the transportation and helium besides helps america disconnected the transportation with tons of proposal for each the players, including myself.

"We request him successful the group. He has a large cognition and winning mentality. He is simply a relation exemplary for the squad and the group."