The Real Madrid superstar had waited 12 long years to finally lead his country to international glory - but was cruelly denied the chance to be Portugal's hero due to a knee injury
COMMENT
Once again it all ended in tears. A young Cristiano Ronaldo was inconsolable as Portugal lost the Euro 2004 final to Greece in Lisbon and was distraught again at the Stade de France on Sunday evening after he was stretchered off the pitch in the first half.
Ronaldo was just 19 and playing his first international tournament back in 2004, but the Real Madrid forward captains his country these days and was relishing the chance of leading Portugal to glory at Euro 2016.