FORMER Premier League star Jose Fonte insists Cristiano Ronaldo did NOT inspire Portugal to Euro 2016 glory.
In fact, most players didn’t even realise he was ‘coaching’ from the sidelines.
Portugal beat France 1-0 to clinch the European Championship title eight years ago.
Main man Ronaldo was forced off just 25 minutes into the match following a heavy collision with Dimitri Payet.
He was carried off on a stretcher and left the pitch in tears while Ricardo Quaresma replaced him.
The Real Madrid legend later returned to the sidelines and took on a temporary coaching role, instructing his team-mates throughout the second half with his knee strapped.
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Fans praised Ronaldo for his leadership at the time, but his former team-mate Fonte has revealed that several players didn’t even notice he was there until after the match.
Speaking on Uefas Legends Lounge series, the former Southampton and West Ham star said: “We were focused on trying to win the game. Only after we were watching the images.
“That’s when we realised what was happening and the coach. But we were just focusing on trying to win the game to be honest.”
Football fans were left stunned at the revelation, with one person taking to social media to write: “I’m in tears man, for almost a decade his fans pushed the narrative that he ‘inspired the team to win the final’ when his team-mates didn’t even know this guy was dancing on the sidelines.”
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Another commented: “Wait so Ronaldo being the cheerleader didn’t actually have any effect on them winning? Crazy how Ronaldo fans act like Ronaldo was the catalyst of the final.”
While a third said: “Euro champion with Portugal José Fonte just bodied Ronaldo and his entire fanbase 😭.”
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Portugal were knocked out of Euro 2024 in the quarter-finals last week following a 5-3 defeat to France on penalties.
It marked a heartbreaking end to Ronaldo’s final European Championship as a player.
How Portugal have performed at the Euros with Cristiano Ronaldo
CRISTIANO RONALDO has been a model of longevity for more than two decades in an outstanding international career.
Euro 2004
After making his international debut in 2003, Ronaldo’s first Euros came in 2004.
Ronaldo marked his Euro debut with a goal in a 2-1 defeat to Greece – his first for Portugal.
He scored his second in the semi-final win over the Netherlands, but Portugal met Greece again in the final, losing 1-0 in shock result.
Euro 2008
Ronaldo was Portugal captain four years later but Euro 2008 was the least impactful tournament he’s had.
There was still time for a standout performance, though, as Ronaldo scored once and set up two more in a group-stage win over the Czech Republic.
Euro 2012
Playing at Real Madrid at the time, Ronaldo was the top goalscorer at Euro 2012, with three goals, including a brace in the group stage against the Netherlands.
Portugal’s quarter-final against Czech Republic was heading towards a stalemate with 10 minutes to go and they needed a special moment from him.
His powerful header in the dying minutes took Portugal to the semi-finals where they lost on penalties to Spain.
Euro 2016
Ronaldo scored three goals in Euro 2016, with Portugal crowned CHAMPIONS after defeating France 1-0 in extra time in the final.
After suffering an injury inside the opening 16 minutes against France, he was forced to watch from the sidelines.
Yet the Portugal captain became a cheerleader, and helped coach his team-mates to the historic victory.
He matched Michel Platini’s record of nine goals by the end of Euro 2016.
Euro 2020
Ronaldo made history again with FIVE goals at Euro 2020, the most of any player at a Euros.
Yet it was arguably Portugal’s least exciting affair, as they exited in the Round of 16 following a 1-0 defeat to Belgium.
With his goals in this tournament, Ronaldo became the top goalscorer at the European Championship with 14 goals.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
