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Ronaldo gave the squad what has been described as an ‘unbelievable’ half-time speech
Ronaldo had been on the field before extra time encouraging his team mates
Ronaldo spent much of the second half and extra-time acting as an effective assistant manager
When you're a star as big as Cristiano Ronaldo, it's very difficult to fade into the background.
Ronaldo had to settle for a back-stage role after Dimitri Payet's challenge left him in a heap on the floor.
But did you really think he was simply going to disappear into the shadows?
No!
Ronaldo gave the Portuguese squad what has been described as an ‘unbelievable’ half-time speech, telling his team-mates he was ‘sure’ they would beat France in their 1-0 Euro 2016 final, Cedric Soares revealed.
"In half-time, Cristiano had fantastic words for us. He gave us a lot of confidence and said 'listen people, I'm sure we will win, so stay together and fight for it.”
Ronaldo spent much of the second half and extra-time acting as an effective assistant manager, giving instructions from the bench, and Soares praised this as beneficial to the players.
He was right to credit his team mates and coach Fernando Santos’s because while he may have been the man who got them to the final with his goal and assist in the last-four win over Wales, it was the squad who delivered his medal.
Ronaldo had been on the field before extra time encouraging his team mates and goalscorer Eder said had made an impact.
Ronaldo’s critics have often pointed to his ego but Santos said his behaviour after suffering his injury had been exemplary.
"Cristiano is an amazing example. Today he tried to remain on the pitch. He was very strong in the locker room, he helped all of the boys, that 's the definition of teamwork