Cristiano Ronaldo retired after a legendary career that defined Portuguese football. He led the team to their first major trophy at Euro 2016, where he famously coached from the sidelines after an injury. He also set records for international goals and scored a thrilling hat-trick against Spain in 2018.
Ronaldo was the centrepiece for Portugal as they won their first-ever major trophy- the Euro 2016. He scored 3 and assisted 3 goals in the tournament, thus being directly involved in 6 of the 9 goals scored by Portugal.
In the final, he helped not on the pitch, but off it. Stretchered off just 25 minutes into the final against France due to a knee injury; his tournament seemed over. Instead, he transformed into an animated assistant manager on the touchline. He was limping, shouting instructions, and kicking every imaginary ball until Eder’s extra-time winner secured a historic 1-0 victory.
Portugal were trailing late, and Ronaldo's chance to break UAE legend Ali Daei’s record of 109 international goals was slipping away. However, Ronaldo responded by launching himself into the air to score two trademark, towering headers in the 89th and 96th minutes. With these goals, he not only secured an important comeback win for his country, but also managed to become the all-time leading international goalscorer in history.
He scored all four of Portugal's goals across the tie, sealing the deal in Stockholm with a blistering second-half hat-trick that single-handedly dragged his country to the tournament.
The World Cup hat-trick vs Spain (2018)
Cristiano Ronaldo has not had a great showing in the FIFA World Cup. However, the most memorable among his record 10 international hat-tricks came in the 2018 edition of the biggest football tournament.
Facing a dominant Spanish side in the group stage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Ronaldo single-handedly saved the day and snatched a 3-3 draw. He had already scored two goals prior, but his side were trailing 2-3 in the 88th minute.
Ronaldo had to make a free-kick opportunity count. He rolled up his shorts, took his famous stance, and whipped a flawless free-kick over the wall, leaving David de Gea glued to the turf to seal his 51st career hat-trick and one of the most thrilling comeback results for Portugal in history.
Days later, he captained the side to a victory over the Netherlands in the final, lifting his second major international trophy in front of a sea of red and green in Porto.