(LEFT) Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo reacts after failing to score during the quarter-final against France at the Euro 2024 tournament in Hamburg; (RIGHT) Ronaldo consoles Pepe. (AP Photo)
Cristiano Ronaldo’s bid to win the European Championship title in his last appearance at the continental showpiece tournament is over! The 39-year-old Ronaldo has said this was his record sixth and last European Championship.
The Portuguese talisman and his side were sent home by France via a dramatic penalty shootout early on Saturday where France prevailed 5-3. In the shootout, while all of France’s spot-kick takers converted their attempts, Joao Felix missed his kick, slamming his shot against the upright.
Ronaldo had told Portuguese public broadcaster RTP on Monday that this was going to be his last European Championship.
“It is, without doubt, my last European Championship. But I’m not emotional about that. I’m moved by all that football means — by the enthusiasm I have for the game, the enthusiasm for seeing my supporters, my family, the affection people have for me,” Ronaldo said after Portugal defeated Slovenia to make it to the quarterfinal after a 3-0 win on penalties.
Ronaldo had led his team to the Euros title in 2016 — when Portugal had, in fact, beaten France in the final.
After their fate was sealed, Ronaldo, who scored Portugal’s first penalty in the shootout, stood by himself looking emotional. But his longtime teammate Pepe was inconsolable. Pepe sobbed into Ronaldo’s jersey and the Portugal talisman spent some time consoling the defender before making his way down the tunnel.
The result would have been a relief for France, who had substituted talisman Kylian Mbappe before the shootout after he appeared to pick up a knock on his face. Mbappe is already competing in the tournament with a face mask after picking up a heavy blow to the nose earlier.
France have lost in penalty shootouts at its last two major tournaments — in the last 16 at the Euros in 2021 and in the 2022 World Cup final.
France will now take on the Spanish football team in the semifinals after its extra-time win over Germany in Stuttgart.
