On July 10, 2016, football history was written as Portugal, against all odds and without their talismanic captain Cristiano Ronaldo for much of the game, triumphed over hosts France to win the UEFA European Championship.
The Stade de France in Saint-Denis bore witness to a gritty, determined Portuguese side lifting their maiden major international trophy, a decade ago to this very day.
A Dramatic Final at Stade de France
The highly anticipated final kicked off at 9:00 PM CEST (local time) at the iconic Stade de France, in front of 75,868 spectators. Portugal, led by coach Fernando Santos, faced Didier Deschamps’ formidable French squad, who were widely considered favorites on home soil. The match was officiated by English referee Mark Clattenburg.
The game took a significant turn early on when Portugal’s captain and star forward, Cristiano Ronaldo, suffered a knee injury following a challenge from France’s Dimitri Payet in the 8th minute. Despite attempts to play on with a heavily bandaged knee, a tearful Ronaldo was ultimately forced to leave the field in the 25th minute, being replaced by Ricardo Quaresma. Nani took over the captain’s armband for Portugal.
For the remainder of regulation time, France pressed for a winner, with Antoine Griezmann and André-Pierre Gignac coming close, the latter hitting the post in stoppage time. However, Portugal’s resilient defense, marshaled by Pepe, who was later named Man of the Match, held firm, sending the game into extra time.
Éder’s Historic Strike
In the second half of extra time, the deadlock was finally broken. In the 109th minute, substitute Éder, who had come on for Renato Sanches in the 79th minute, received the ball, held off Laurent Koscielny, and unleashed a powerful low shot from approximately 25 yards out. The shot beat French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, finding the bottom corner of the net and sending the Portuguese fans into ecstasy.
Éder’s goal proved to be the decisive moment, as Portugal held on to secure a historic 1-0 victory. This triumph marked Portugal’s first-ever major international football title, overcoming a strong French side and a significant early setback. The victory also ended a 41-year winless streak for Portugal against France.
The emotional win, with Ronaldo cheering from the bench during extra time, cemented the 2016 UEFA Euro Final as an unforgettable moment in Portuguese football history.