When Ronaldo went off, we thought, We've lost our best player, what's going to happen now?' But at the same time it also gave us strength' Nani on Portugal's historic Euro 2016 win

"I celebrated with so much emotion representing Portugal is always special, Nani tells FourFourTwo. Scoring in a semi-final and helping the team reach the final was indescribable. Then, to be part of history when we lifted the trophy, that's something I'll never forget. We remember that triumph with pride, because it meant so much for the team, the country and our careers."

"Cristiano was fundamental for us. His presence on the pitch gave us enormous security he always kept opponents on edge. When he went off, we thought, We've lost our best player, what's going to happen now?' But at the same time it also gave us strength. We came together even more as a team and fought for him."

Portugal achieved their first major international trophy by winning Euro 2016 under manager Fernando Santos. Nani, a former Manchester United winger, played a vital role in the campaign, scoring a pivotal goal in the semi-final against Wales to put Portugal 2-0 ahead. The final presented significant challenges when Cristiano Ronaldo suffered an injury after just 25 minutes, forcing him off the pitch. Despite this setback and the emotional impact of losing their star player, the Portuguese team rallied together, drawing strength from adversity and ultimately lifting the trophy. Nani earned 112 international caps for Portugal, ranking among the nation's most-capped players.

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