9781422270714

EUROPEAN CHAMPION By 2016, Ronaldo had won every title and trophy there was to win as a club player. He had not, however, been able to replicate that level of success on the international stage. Despite his best efforts, Ronaldo’s Portugal squads had ultimately come up short. That all changed with the 2016 UEFA European Championship, more commonly called Euro 2016. Held every four years since 1960, the competition pits the best UEFA member teams against each other in a battle for continental supremacy. Coming into the 2016 event, Ronaldo was in good form, having scored five times in qualifying. He scored two of Portugal’s goals in the final group stage match to earn the 3-3 draw and a berth in the knockout round. There, Ronaldo scored the winning goal in the semifinal against Wales to send Portugal through to the final match. Unfortunately for the Portuguese captain, Ronaldo injured his knee early in the match against France and had to watch from the sidelines as his teammates secured a 1-0 victory to claim the title. Nevertheless, as captain, Ronaldo lifted the trophy, the first major football trophy ever for Portugal.

Portugal wins a hard-fought victory over France in Euro 2016.

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