This is not a sight that anybody wanted to see.
Cristiano Ronaldo comes in for a lot of abuse thanks to his perceived arrogance, but you’d need to have a cruel heart to have taken any joy in the way his tournament ended tonight.
Portugal’s talismanic captain hasn’t looked 100% throughout the tournament, and he had to be removed from play after an early crunching tackle from Dimitri Payet.
The 31-year-old forward did his best to play through the pain barrier, but eventually succumbed the injury – leaving the field after about 25 minutes on a stretcher. Real Madrid’s star man fought back the tears as he left the field, echoing the 2004 final where Portugal lost to underdogs Greece.
Twitter mourned the loss and paid tribute to a player who is undoubtedly one of the finest the footballing world has ever witnessed:
The moment Ronaldo's Euro final came to an end. The man doesn't deserve this. pic.twitter.com/6Xz5v7iPGP
— Football Cvlture (@FootballCVLTURE) July 10, 2016
Honestly shook up. Can't believe Ronaldo is out. Cmon Portugal ❤️🇵🇹
— Shawn Mendes (@ShawnMendes) July 10, 2016
Devastating for Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal. The captain is stretchered off the pitch: https://t.co/eOUH1BZBE1 (U.S. only)
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) July 10, 2016
Ronaldo's injury has taken the sting out of the game. France still the better side but pace has dropped. #FRAPOR
— Nathan Murphy (@nathanmurf) July 10, 2016
Very sad for Ronaldo. I blame the moths #FRAPOR
— Dan Walker (@mrdanwalker) July 10, 2016
I bet Ronaldo still scores #PORFRA
— Richard Osman (@richardosman) July 10, 2016
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