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At the final of the 2016 Euros, Portugal played host nation France for a chance to lift the coveted continental trophy. Cameras caught the two managers on the sidelines - France’s Didier Deschamps, hand on hips, pointing out instructions to players, and Portugal’s Fernando Santos, arms folded, signaling for his team to stay focused and alert. But there seemed to be a strange optical illusion happening on that summer evening in Saint-Denis. Because when cameras filmed both sides’ benches, there seemed to be not two managers shouting instructions, but three. Wearing his bright-red kit and the national team’s jumper was Cristiano Ronaldo, knee wrapped up in bandages.
Ronaldo had long dreamt of this moment - of leading Portugal to the final of a major international tournament. And that’s just what he had done. With the captain’s armband, he had scored three goals during the competition to help his nation reach that exact spot.
And this wasn’t the first time he had come close, either, having previously helped Portugal reach the final of the 2004 Euros, semifinal of the 2006 World Cup and semifinal of the 2012 Euros. Each time, his efforts and abilities had proved essential in spurring his nation onto greater glory.
But now, in perhaps the most important match of his career, Ronaldo had been forced to leave the pitch after suffering a serious injury in the first half. Unable to aid his team while on the pitch, he chose to do the next best thing. Acting as second-in-command to Fernando Santos, he hobbled up and down the sidelines for the entirety of the match, motivating his teammates and providing instructions.
Euro 2016: The Birth of the Player-Coach
In extra time, striker Éder scored, and after holding on until the end of the match, Portugal were crowned European champions.
The title was the nation’s first ever major international trophy. Ronaldo fell on the pitch, crying in joy. His teammates hugged him in celebration. They knew they could not have done it without him. Even in the final, his refusal to leave the bench and insistence to watch and support his teammates, had proved essential.
And though Ronaldo is beloved and respected for several aspects of his career and style of play, we must never overlook his importance as a figure of leadership in the Portuguese national team. It is that characteristic which pushed the team to win in 2016, and also allowed them to win the Nations League in both 2019 and 2025.
Nowhere can this be more clearly seen than in the 2016 Euros itself, in the quarter-finals between Portugal and Poland. The match had ended in a draw and was going to be decided by penalties. One Portuguese player, João Moutinho, seemed unsure whether to step up or not, with the pressure of his nation weighing on his back. But the cameras caught something remarkable - Ronaldo encouraging his teammate, not allowing him to crumble, saying: “Go take it. Go. [...] Show some personality. You shoot well! It's in God's hands now.” To be given such a vote of confidence, from a man who has scored over 100 penalties in his career, was all Moutinho needed - he scored his penalty.
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A Mentor to the Stars: Connecting with Portugal's New Generation
Bruno Fernandes, who has grown into one of Portugal’s key figures in the national team, has also spoken about how important Ronaldo’s leadership and support has been for him during his international career. In a 2020 interview, the midfielder recalls the first time he was called up for the national team, and how it was Ronaldo who came to speak to him, making sure he felt included and welcome. Fernandes also states that when he was in the negotiation stages of signing with Manchester United, Ronaldo encouraged his former club to believe in his Portugal teammate: “The fact that Cristiano gave very good references to everyone who tried to speak to him before my signing makes me proud of what I had been doing - that a player like him recognised my value.” (Canal 11)
A Legend in the Dressing Room
But perhaps Ronaldo’s biggest contribution to the Portuguese national team is simply existing - being Ronaldo. Regardless of age, club, manager, he remains consistent. He never stops working. He is now 41 years old. Though many would have already retired by this point, he keeps going, relentless, chasing a historic milestone of 1,000 career goals.
"Seeing him, at 40 years old, doing what he does, only gives us more motivation.” – João Félix
In a recent interview for the Saudi Pro League, Al-Nassr and Portugal teammate Joao Félix explained: “All the effort [Cristiano] puts in on the pitch, whilst having more experience than all of us put together - every day and every game - is unique. Seeing him, at 40 years old, doing what he does, only gives us more motivation.” (Saudi Pro League)
His refusal to quit, to accept anything but the absolute best, is infectious. Many of Portugal’s current stars have grown up aspiring to be like Ronaldo, and so this mindset has been instilled into them from a very young age. The country is now one of the world’s most formidable footballing forces.
"I want to be a player who helps others, to be someone they can admire and see as a role model, and to be a good professional." – Cristiano Ronaldo
Current Portuguese coach Roberto Martínez does not tire of praising Ronaldo, understanding that his job is one that many managers could only ever dream of - of working with one of the greatest athletes of all time. He also sees the necessity of Ronaldo’s presence within Portugal’s squad - inspiring each teammate, every day. Here is a player who is in his 40s, who has represented the national team for over two decades, who was essential in conquering Portugal’s first ever major international trophy - and he isn’t slowing down. He’s training hard, he’s giving suggestions and providing leadership, he’s encouraging the younger players. It’s this work ethic which Martínez likes seeing filtered down throughout the rest of the locker room: “As the national team coach, I believe I have a responsibility to give young players the opportunity to work with Cristiano Ronaldo, who is an example.” (Mundo Maldini)
A Defining Presence in the National Team
And Ronaldo himself is of course aware of how essential he is to the team’s morale and performance. That’s why he never says never. That’s why Martínez describes him as a ‘chameleon’ - he is willing to adapt in any way he can to help his teammates and attain victory. He will change position, style of play, all while remaining the marvellous footballer which we know and love. And if something unexpected happens, if he is forced to leave the most important match of his life on a stretcher because his body simply cannot play through the pain of injury anymore, he will remain part of the team as a managerial figure, as a leader, as a supporter, as a big brother, as an inspiration.
As Ronaldo himself has said: “I try to lead in a way that I consider productive. I want to be a player who helps others, to be someone they can admire and see as a role model, and to be a good professional. I like to do things by example, as I often say.” (UEFA)
After all, though he may be one of the footballers with the highest number of individual achievements in the history of the sport, though he may have won the Ballon d’Or trophies and been nominated a record 18 times, he understands that he is a team player. He knows that to reach eternal glory in football, you must not only focus on your own performance, but on those of your teammates. You must push them forwards, spur them on when times get tough. This attitude, alongside his incredible personal commitment to the sport, is what has made Cristiano Ronaldo such an important character for Portugal and for the rest of the world.
