OVERCOME: Ronaldo couldn't hold back the tears

But he nailed it as a motivational speaker.

The Real Madrid superstar lifted his dispirited team-mates and inspired them to their first ever European Championship success as they beat hosts France 1-0 in the final on Sunday night.

Portugal were down in the dumps after skipper and talisman Ronaldo was carried off injured and in tears in the 25th minute following a shuddering challenge by Dimitri Payet, which left him with a damaged left knee.

It looked like being a sad end for Ronaldo who scored three goals in the tournament, but missed chance after chance - including a penalty - and took his record at major tournaments to zero goals from 43 free-kick attempts.

But Ronaldo dried his eyes and took it upon himself to pump up his team-mates at half-time.

"Everybody was a little bit in shock,” revealed defender Cedric Soares.

"At half-time, Cristiano had fantastic words for us, he gave us a lot of confidence and said ‘listen people, I’m sure we will win, so stay together and fight for it’.

"It was really unbelievable. I think all the team had a fantastic attitude. And we showed when you fight as one you are much much stronger.

"Cristiano’s attitude was unbelievable. He helped our team-mates a lot, he always says a lot of motivational words and all the team of course react to them. So it was very good."

Ronaldo prowled the technical area during extra-time alongside actual boss Fernando Santos.

Soares added: “He had fantastic words for each player in each moment of the game."

Santos said: “The way he spoke to us, and reached the lads, incentivising them in the changing room and in the dug-out...

"He believed that it was our night. On his behalf, I’d like to thank all the players for believing."

Ronaldo’s Real Madrid and Portugal team-mate Pepe added: "It was very difficult because we lost our best player, the one who gave us a lot of hope.

"We all know he can score at any minute. He asked us to win the game for him and we gave blood, sweat and tears to do it.”

Ronaldo lifted the trophy after Eder’s shock last-gasp winner had ended the Paris party for hosts France.

Ronaldo said: "It was a match featuring both scenarios, sadness and joy.

"What I can say is that it is one of the happiest moments of my life.

"I cried and I cried again for five minutes with my family and my friends.

"I have won everything I could win with my clubs, but something was missing with the national team.

"I did not succeed in the way I imagined, and I was a bit disgusted to have to go out. But Portugal deserved it.