2016 European Championship final: Portugal's fairy tale

On 10 July 2016 at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, Portugal won their first major international trophy, beating hosts France 1-0 after extra time. Eder scored the winner in the 109th minute with a powerful long-range shot.

Ronaldo’s early exit

Portugal’s talisman Cristiano Ronaldo was forced off with a knee injury in the 25th minute, in tears on the touchline. His teammates, inspired rather than deflated, grew into the game.

A patient victory

France dominated possession but struggled to break down a disciplined Portuguese block. Eder’s strike — his only goal of the tournament — flew past Hugo Lloris to spark wild celebrations.

Why it’s iconic

For a nation that had fallen short so often, the win completed a generations-long quest and proved that tactical organisation could topple individual brilliance on the biggest stage.

Sources

• Wikipedia — UEFA Euro 2016 final: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Euro_2016_final
• UEFA — Euro 2016: https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/editions/2016/