European football used to be a two-horse race between the World Cup and the Euros. Then, UEFA decided to kill off those meaningless international friendlies that everyone hated. They gave us the Nations League instead. Some people called it a "glorified friendly" at first. Honestly? Tell that to Cristiano Ronaldo or Luis de la Fuente. They don't treat it like a friendly.
Since its birth in 2018, the tournament has evolved into a high-stakes bracket where the heavyweights actually throw punches. We’ve seen four editions now. Interestingly, the list of all nations league winners is surprisingly short because a couple of teams just refuse to let go of the trophy.
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The Current Kings: Portugal's 2025 Redemption
If you watched the 2024–25 final in Munich, you saw something special. Portugal became the first-ever two-time winner of the competition. It wasn't easy. They had to survive a 2-2 slugfest against Spain that went all the way to a penalty shootout.
Nuno Mendes was basically everywhere that night. He scored a beauty to cancel out Martín Zubimendi’s opener and then kept Lamine Yamal—the kid everyone’s talking about—mostly quiet. But the headline, as always, was Ronaldo. At 40 years old, he bagged the equalizer in the 61st minute. It was his 138th international goal. Just think about that number for a second.
When it came down to penalties, Diogo Costa did what he does best. He saved Álvaro Morata’s effort, and Rúben Neves tucked away the winner. 5-3 on pens. Portugal took the trophy back to Lisbon, adding to their 2019 title.
The Full List of Nations League Champions
While the tournament is still young, the pedigree of winners is elite. No flukes here.
- 2018–19: Portugal (1-0 vs. Netherlands)
- 2020–21: France (2-1 vs. Spain)
- 2022–23: Spain (0-0, 5-4 on pens vs. Croatia)
- 2024–25: Portugal (2-2, 5-3 on pens vs. Spain)
Spain has actually been the most consistent "almost" team. They’ve been in three of the four finals. They won in 2023 by breaking Croatian hearts in a shootout, but they’ve also lost two heartbreakers. It’s a bit of a pattern for them lately—lots of possession, beautiful passing, but sometimes they just can't kill the game off in 90 minutes.
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The Inaugural Glory (2019)
The first edition was Portugal’s party. Playing at home in Porto, they faced a resurgent Dutch side. It was a tight, tactical game. Gonçalo Guedes smashed home the only goal in the 60th minute. It felt like a passing of the torch at the time, but looking back, it was just the beginning of Portugal’s obsession with this specific trophy.
France and the "Mbappé Moment" (2021)
The 2021 final in Milan was arguably the best of the bunch. Spain took the lead through Mikel Oyarzabal, and it looked like they were going to pass France into submission. Then Karim Benzema happened. He scored a curler that defied physics. Later, Kylian Mbappé broke away to slide home the winner. There was a massive VAR row over whether he was offside, but the goal stood. France was the best team in the world back then, and they proved it.
Why Does This Tournament Matter?
You might hear critics say it’s just a way for UEFA to make more money. Maybe. But for the players, the Nations League is a massive "E-E-A-T" (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trust) builder for their national squads.
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- It replaces friendlies: Instead of playing a random match against a team from another continent, European giants play each other. High intensity. Real stakes.
- World Cup Qualifying Lifeline: This is the part most fans forget. Your performance in the Nations League can actually give you a back door into the World Cup playoffs if you mess up your regular qualifying group.
- The Prize Money: We’re talking millions of euros. That goes back into the national FAs to fund youth development.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Winners
People often assume the "big" nations don't care. That’s a myth. Look at the lineups. When France played Spain, they didn't field the "B" team. They played the stars.
Another misconception? That the tournament is too complex. Sorta, but not really. Basically, the top teams are in League A. They play in groups, and the winners of those groups go to the Finals. It's a simple four-team (or eight-team in the newer format) knockout. Winner takes all.
Looking Ahead to 2027
The next cycle is already looming. With Portugal holding two titles and Spain desperate to reclaim their spot at the top, the rivalry is heating up. Germany finally made a deep run in 2025, finishing fourth, and they’ll be hungry for their first piece of silverware in a decade.
If you're looking to track the all nations league winners over time, keep an eye on the defensive stats. Every single winner has had a world-class goalkeeper performing miracles in a shootout or a tight 1-0 game. From Rui Patrício to Unai Simón and now Diogo Costa, the "man between the sticks" is usually the one lifting the trophy.
What You Should Do Now
If you want to stay ahead of the curve for the next tournament cycle, here is what to keep an eye on:
- Watch the League A Group Drawings: These usually happen a year in advance. The "Group of Death" almost always produces the eventual winner.
- Track the "Backdoor" Qualifiers: Keep a spreadsheet of the overall rankings. If your team is struggling in World Cup qualifying, their Nations League rank is their safety net.
- Ignore the "Friendlies" Label: Start treating these matches like the mini-Euros they actually are. The quality of play is often higher because the teams are so familiar with each other.
The Nations League has cemented itself as a major trophy. It’s no longer the "new kid on the block." It’s where the elite of Europe go to prove they’re still the best.