Cristiano Ronaldo was stretchered off in tears but an extra-time goal by Eder saw Portugal beat hosts France 1-0 in Sunday’s Euro 2016 final to win their first major tournament.
The victim of a heavy challenge by Dimitri Payet, Ronaldo went off in the first half, but returned to the touchline to see Lille striker, Eder, settle the game with a low 25-yard strike at Stade de France.
Twelve years after losing 1-0 to Greece as hosts of Euro 2004, Portugal inflicted the same fate on France, who were seeking a cathartic victory eight months on from the Paris attacks that left 130 people dead.
France coach, Didier Deschamps, had hoped to lead his side to a fourth major tournament win, and third on home soil after Euro 1984 and the 1998 World Cup, when he was captain. But it was Ronaldo’s Portugal who prevailed.
The victory ended Portugal’s run of 10 straight defeats against France, who had eliminated them in the semi-finals at Euro 1984, Euro 2000 and the 2006 World Cup.
They took the spoils in France despite having won only one match inside 90 minutes – the 2-0 semi-final victory against Wales – in the whole tournament.
Coach Fernando Santos had dubbed the team “the ugly duckling”.
Victory was above all sweet for Ronaldo, despite his early exit.
He had shed tears on the pitch as a 19-year-old after Greece’s win in Euro 2004 in Lisbon, cried as he was carried off on Sunday and shed more tears as he raced on in celebration at full-time.
In winning a major tournament he surpasses Portugal greats Eusebio and Luis Figo. He has also stolen a march on his great rival Lionel Messi, who announced his Argentina retirement two weeks ago, in the battle for the next FIFA Ballon d’Or.
Taken off in the 25th minute, he returned at the start of extra time to deliver on-pitch pep talks that appeared to inspire his team to victory.
Eder, a 78th-minute replacement for Renato Sanches, saw a header pushed out by France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, while Raphael Guerreiro hit the bar from a free-kick.
With 11 minutes of the extra period to play, the goal that Portugal’s fans have waited their lives to see arrived as Eder held off Laurent Koscielny and drove a crisp shot into the bottom-left corner from 25 yards.
“(Ronaldo) told me I would score the winning goal for the team,” the goalscorer told O Jogo.
“He gave me this strength, this energy and it was vital. It was a goal I’ve been working for from the first minute of the Euros.
“For all the work we did, for all of the Portuguese, it’s fantastic,” he added. “It’s well deserved and we should all be congratulated.”
Meanwhile, France coach, Deschamps, was left to rue his side’s missed opportunities.
“There are no words, the disappointment is immense. It will take time to digest it,” Deschamps said after the match.
“Even if we were missing a little bit of energy tonight, it’s not an excuse, we had opportunities, the last was Gignac.”
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