Cristiano Ronaldo Sparks Debate with Half-Time Shirt Swap Before Scoring Equaliser in Nations League Final

Cristiano Ronaldo surprised fans during the UEFA Nations League final between Portugal and Spain by exchanging shirts with Nico Williams at half-time—a highly unusual gesture in such a high-stakes match.

Portugal were trailing 2–1 at the break, with Martín Zubimendi and Mikel Oyarzabal scoring for Spain, while Nuno Mendes had assisted Ronaldo in a brief equaliser. 

As both teams walked off the pitch, Ronaldo and Williams were seen swapping jerseys, an act typically reserved for after full-time. The moment sparked backlash on social media, with one user commenting, “Shirt swapping at HT… WTAF? The game is gone!” and another calling it “criminal.”

Despite the controversy, Ronaldo quickly silenced critics on the pitch. Just 15 minutes into the second half, he connected with another cross from Mendes and fired home a trademark volley to level the score at 2–2, marking his 138th goal for Portugal.