Honestly, the Nations League used to be the competition everyone loved to hate. A "glorified friendly," they called it. But if you actually look at the uefa nations league stats from the most recent 2024/25 cycle, that narrative has completely died. We are seeing numbers that rival the World Cup in terms of intensity and, frankly, pure chaos.
You've got Erling Haaland treating League B like a personal training session, while giants like France and Germany are sweating over possession metrics that don't always translate to goals. It is a weird, high-stakes experiment that has somehow become the most statistically interesting tournament in Europe.
The Haaland vs. Ronaldo Goal Race
People love to talk about the "old guard" vs. the "new era," and the scoring charts are basically a battleground for that exact fight.
Erling Haaland is currently the all-time king of this competition. As of early 2026, he’s sitting on 19 goals in just 15 appearances. That is a joke. It’s nearly 1.3 goals per game. He just doesn't care who the opponent is. In the 2024/25 season alone, he bagged 7 goals for Norway, including a clinical hat-trick against Kazakhstan in November.
Then you have Cristiano Ronaldo. The man is 40 and still topped the League A scoring charts this past season with 8 goals. He’s now tied with Aleksandar Mitrović at 15 all-time Nations League goals.
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But here’s the kicker most people miss: Viktor Gyökeres.
The Swedish powerhouse actually outscored everyone in the 2024/25 league phase. He finished with 9 goals and 5 assists. Sweden was in League C, sure, but those stats are astronomical. He also led the tournament with 17 attempts on target. If you’re looking at who's going to break Haaland's records in the next five years, it’s him.
All-Time Leading Scorers (Total Goals)
- Erling Haaland (Norway): 19
- Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal): 15
- Aleksandar Mitrović (Serbia): 15
- Romelu Lukaku (Belgium): 13
- Vedat Muriqi (Kosovo): 13
Why Possession is Kinda Lying to You
We see it every year. A team keeps the ball for 70% of the match and loses 1-0. The Nations League is the capital of this phenomenon.
England, for instance, recorded a massive 69.7% average possession during their 2024/25 campaign. Their passing accuracy was a stellar 90.7%. On paper, they should be untouchable. Yet, they still found themselves in battles where they struggled to break down low blocks.
Compare that to a team like North Macedonia. They don't care about the ball. They topped the clean sheet charts with 5 shutouts in 6 matches. Their goalkeeper, Stole Dimitrievski, has been a wall. It’s a classic case of efficiency over aesthetics.
Germany and Austria are also high-possession sides, hovering around 61%, but Germany actually makes it count. They scored 24 goals in their latest run. Joshua Kimmich has basically turned into an assist machine, racking up 6 of them to tie with Portugal’s Nuno Mendes for the tournament lead.
The Defensive Grinders Nobody Talks About
While everyone watches the strikers, the real "nerd stats" are in the ball recoveries and tackles.
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France’s William Saliba and Italy’s Alessandro Bastoni are currently tied for the most balls recovered, both sitting at 54. It’s a testament to how the modern game is played—reading the lanes rather than just sliding in.
However, if you want "old school" grit, look at the tackle counts. Bruno Fernandes actually led the 2024/25 season with 22 tackles. Yes, a playmaker. It shows you how much the intensity has ramped up. International "friendlies" don't usually see your #10 flying into 20+ tackles over a few weeks.
Goalkeeping Walls: Save Percentages
- Karl Hein (Estonia): 37 saves (The busiest man in Europe)
- Diogo Costa (Portugal): 32 saves / 76.2% save rate
- David Raya (Spain): 77.8% save rate (The highest efficiency in League A)
Estonia’s Karl Hein is a fascinating case study. He made more saves than anyone else because Estonia’s defense is essentially a sieve, but his individual performance was the only reason they weren't relegated sooner.
What Really Happened with the New Format?
The 2024/25 season introduced the quarter-finals for League A, and it changed the statistical profile of the "big" teams.
Earlier editions saw teams rotate heavily. Now? Not so much. Because the top two teams from each League A group advance, the "Expected Goals" (xG) metrics for teams like Spain and Portugal have spiked.
Spain led the way with an xG of 21.1 across the league phase. They are creating high-quality chances at a rate we haven't seen since their 2010 heyday. But they also missed 19 "big chances." It’s a weird paradox—they are better at creating, but slightly more wasteful than the clinical German side.
Tactical Takeaways for the 2026/27 Cycle
If you're tracking these stats for betting or just to win an argument at the pub, here’s what matters for the next round of games in 2026.
Watch the League B Promotions.
Teams like Norway, England, and Greece are moving up. Their stats will naturally "dip" as they face tougher opposition in League A, but keep an eye on their defensive discipline. Greece, for example, conceded only 5 goals in 8 matches. That defensive structure is often more sustainable than a high-scoring run in a lower league.
The "Clean Sheet" Indicator.
Keep an eye on North Macedonia and Northern Ireland. They’ve mastered the art of the Nations League "grind." In 2024/25, these two combined for 9 clean sheets. When they play at home, the "Under 2.5 goals" stat is almost a lock.
Follow the xA (Expected Assists).
Joshua Kimmich (3.9 xA) and Jamal Musiala (0.41 xA per 90) are the creative heartbeat of Europe right now. Germany has moved away from the "false nine" experiment and is now using these creators to feed actual strikers. Their "Goals per Match" average of 2.4 is likely to stay high.
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Check the Discipline.
Spain and Portugal actually picked up the most yellow cards (23 each). It’s a surprising stat for teams that dominate the ball, but it proves the "tactical foul" is alive and well in the Nations League.
To stay ahead of the curve, you should prioritize looking at progressive carries and touches in the opposition box. France currently leads the world in box touches (388), which suggests their scoring "droughts" are usually just bad luck rather than bad tactics. The goals will come.
Keep an eye on the official UEFA portal for live updates as the March 2026 draw approaches, as seedings are now strictly based on these final 2024/25 rankings.