The referee did not even call a foul when France’s Dimitri Payet banged into Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo near midfield. So even though the French didn’t turn that theft of the ball into a goal in the final of the 2016 European Championships, it might have been the most effective tackle of the year in world soccer.
Because it finished Ronaldo.
He went down after being hit, and because there was no call it was easy to suspect it was a theatrical display by Ronaldo to complain about the decision. But as the game continued when he got to his feet, he was noticeably diminished.