The night of July 10, 2016, in Saint-Denis will forever be etched in Portuguese football history. Against all odds, Portugal overcame the early loss of their talismanic captain, Cristiano Ronaldo, to clinch the European Championship title, defeating hosts France 1-0 in a dramatic extra-time final. This victory cemented Portugal’s place as the 2016 Euro Winner, a triumph built on resilience, tactical discipline, and a moment of brilliance from an unlikely hero.
The Stade de France was electric with anticipation as the final whistle approached, but for much of the match, it seemed destined to be France’s night. However, football is a game of moments, and despite France’s dominance in possession and chances created, they couldn’t breach the Portuguese defense marshaled by an inspired Rui Patricio in goal.
The game began at a frenetic pace, with Portugal showing early attacking intent. Nani, in the 5th minute, found himself with space inside the box but his hurried shot sailed over Hugo Lloris’s goal. France responded swiftly, with Moussa Sissoko and Antoine Griezmann testing the Portuguese defense, albeit without truly troubling Patricio.
Disaster struck for Portugal in the 9th minute when Ronaldo collided with Dimitri Payet. A robust challenge left Ronaldo in visible pain, clutching his knee. After initial treatment, he attempted to continue, a testament to his determination. Griezmann then forced a brilliant save from Patricio with a looping header, followed by Olivier Giroud’s tame header from the subsequent corner, both highlighting France’s growing pressure.
Ronaldo’s valiant effort was short-lived. In the 17th minute, the pain became unbearable, and he collapsed to the ground, tears streaming down his face. He briefly returned after further treatment but in the 25th minute, the inevitable happened. Ronaldo signaled he could no longer continue, and was stretchered off to a standing ovation from the Stade de France crowd, replaced by Ricardo Quaresma. The captain’s armband was passed to Nani, and Portugal faced an uphill battle without their inspirational leader.
The departure of Ronaldo seemed to initially unsettle both teams. France, perhaps expecting an easier path to victory, lost some of their attacking fluency. Sissoko, however, continued to be a threat, forcing a save from Patricio with a powerful shot. Portugal, showing resilience, began to find some attacking rhythm towards the end of the first half, with Raphael Guerreiro’s deflected shot and Fonte’s headed chance from a corner representing their best moments after Ronaldo’s exit.
The second half saw France regain control, but Portugal remained defensively solid. Paul Pogba’s long-range effort was wayward, while Cedric effectively dealt with Griezmann to deny him a clear shot on goal. Didier Deschamps introduced Kingsley Coman for Payet just before the hour mark, seeking to inject more dynamism into the French attack.
Coman’s introduction proved impactful. In the 66th minute, he delivered a perfect cross for Griezmann, who, unmarked just yards out, inexplicably headed over the bar – a golden opportunity missed. Portugal responded by bringing on Joao Moutinho for Adrien Silva, attempting to regain midfield control. Coman continued to trouble the Portuguese defense, setting up Giroud whose shot was well saved by Patricio again.
As extra time loomed, both managers made further changes. Andre-Pierre Gignac replaced the ineffective Giroud for France, while Portugal introduced Eder for Renato Sanches. In the dying minutes of normal time, Portugal finally showed renewed attacking intent. Nani’s cross forced Lloris into a desperate save, and Quaresma’s overhead kick from the rebound was straight at the French keeper. Sissoko then unleashed another powerful drive, brilliantly saved by Patricio, who was proving to be an impenetrable wall.
In a dramatic finale to normal time, Gignac almost snatched a winner for France, turning Pepe inside out before striking the post from close range. It was a heart-stopping moment for Portugal, and a let-off that would prove crucial.
Five minutes into extra time, Pepe’s header from a free-kick went narrowly wide, but was ruled offside anyway. Portugal had their best chance of extra time’s first period from a corner. Quaresma’s delivery found Eder, whose powerful header was straight at Lloris.
The decisive moment arrived in the 109th minute. Eder, who had come on as a substitute, collected the ball outside the French penalty area, cut inside onto his right foot, and unleashed a powerful, low drive that nestled into the bottom corner of the net, beyond the reach of a diving Lloris. The stadium erupted in stunned silence, replaced by jubilant Portuguese celebrations. Eder, the unlikely hero, had scored the goal that would crown Portugal as the 2016 Euro winner.
France, visibly deflated, struggled to muster a response. Portugal, energized by the goal, defended resolutely, seeing out the remaining minutes to secure their first-ever major international trophy. The final whistle sparked scenes of wild jubilation amongst the Portuguese players and fans, while heartbreak engulfed the French team and supporters. Portugal, despite losing their talisman early on, had shown incredible spirit and tactical discipline to become the 2016 Euro winner, a victory that will forever be remembered as one of the most dramatic and inspiring in European Championship history.
