Cristiano Ronaldo, at his age{31}, all his achievements, personal and collective, his endorsement, contracts, businesses, still strives for more. He's insatiable, hungry and most importantly, totally consumed by passion for this game of soccer.

Yesterday his reaction to a knee injury that forced him out of the game barely 25mins into the encounter with France was simply emotional. It all started with a robust but needless tackle from Dimitri Payet, just 17mins into the match. Initially, the Real Madrid iconic man thought he could shake it off but was made to accept his fate in the 25min when he signaled his couch, Fernando Santos, for a substitution as he sat down on the pitch, and to make matters worse, a moth landed on his face, as tears rolled down his cheeks, like a father who just lost the last legacy he could offer his only child.

To his teammates, he was an inspiration, to the couching and technical crew, a legend, and to the fans and his country men, he's an idol. It was a moment that stirred up mixed feelings. His teammates felt devastated, but they knew they'll have to give more to compensate for the sorry state of their talisman. The couch sure will be left perplexed as his choicest option had been reduced to a one legged man. I can imagine the joy in the hearts of the French players as the defenders can now step down from their toes and walk on their foots. It was a moment when the French supporters and country men could beat their chest and say "le trophée et notre" (the trophy is ours).

Like a thief caught off guard, the French players pounced on Portugal, and they were fortunate to have the first 90 minutes end in a 0-0 stalemate, all thanks to their defensive approach, a masterpiece performance From Pepe, and quite a number of breath taking saves from Bruno Alves, the goalkeeper.

Cristiano Ronaldo, after losing his Palace at the pitch soon found himself a castle in the dugout. He understands what he meant to the team, he is their captain and their most priced player. He is their record caps holder, their all time top scorer and undoubtedly, the all time greatest player of the Portuguese Origin, he's a legend, a living legend. He failed to prove a point in the pitch, but he knows he won't be needing his leg to prove one along the touchline, he knows how much influence he wields, and wouldn't allow a knee injury steal the show.

The Portuguese Ronaldo was seen pacing along the touchline, calling and motivating his teammates, jerking at every attempt that looked a goal. He inspired them at every interval until his own couch looked his assistant.

The moment eventually came, one that will go down in history, one that will define an Era pioneered by Ronaldo, delivering Portugal its first major trophy. It was time to introduce Eder, CR7 quickly whispered something into his ears grabbing and shaking his head in a bid to instil confidence in him. The Seleccao match-winner revealed that the Real Madrid star's pep talk inspired him before slamming the ball past Hugo Lloris to seal a dream title.

Portugal's Euro 2016 final hero Eder, Says Cristiano Ronaldo told him he would score the winning goal at the Stade de France. The Lille striker, a 79th-minute substitute in Paris, fired home from 25 yards in extra time to give Fernando Santos' side a 1-0 victory over the host nation.

At the end of the game, Ronaldo was again seen crying, but this time it was different, it was a cry borne out of a feeling that words couldn't describe, it was too much an excitement to be expressed in words, he walked the tunnel, he got to the end and he saw the light. Finally he achieved that one thing that was missing in his gallery, a national trophy. And what better way can his teammates honor him than winning him the trophy on a night he could only stand and watch, after spending so many years as the man they relied on.

As a teenager {19), and his first appearance at the Euro in 2004, Cristiano Ronaldo lost the Euro finals to a less superior Greece side, In 2008, he lost to Germany at the quarter final, In 2012 he lost to Spain, the defending champions at the semi finals in penalty shoot out, and in 2016, the trophy was finally delivered at the Stade de France. Ronaldo failed many times, but his passion kept him going, as a teenager he saw the cup, but at 31 he lifted it, he didn't give up, he refused to quit, and the wait finally paid off....