Euro 2016: Ronaldo becomes true great with Portugal win
Ronaldo wept tears of despair then tears of joy as the Euro 2016 final took him on an emotional journey from his lowest low to the high of lifting Portugal&`&s first major trophy.
The 31-year-old Real Madrid superstar carried his country&`&s hopes into the final against hosts France in Paris not only as Portugal&`&s captain but also the player who posed the greatest threat to Didier &`& side.
It looked like all the aspirations of Ronaldo and Portugal would be shattered when he was taken off on a stretcher after 25 minutes following two attempts to battle through a knee injury sustained in a seventh-minute collision.
And yet, as this long night ended with an ecstatic Ronaldo lifting the Euro 2016 trophy, his earlier heartbreak will surely have been erased.
He may have only played 25 minutes - but such was the pure theatre of his presence on and off the pitch that this was almost &`&The Ronaldo Final&`&.
Ronaldo can now be ranked with the true greats of the game. He has finally added success in the international arena, with a Euro 2016 win to add to his honours with Manchester United and Real Madrid.
From BBC News
Available from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36761007