The sister of Cristiano Ronaldo has claimed that her brother's injury in the Euro 2016 final was like the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
Ronaldo was carried off the pitch just 24 minutes into the game at the Stade de France after failing to recover from an eighth minute collision with France's Dimitri Payet.
However, Portugal rallied in his absence and stunned the host nation when Eder smashed home a 109th minute winner.
Ronaldo's knee injury appeared to be forgotten when he cheered his team on from the sideline, often becoming more vocal than his manager Fernando Santos.
And he went on to lift the Henri Delaunay trophy in his role as team captain.Writing on Instagram, she said: “These tears I cried for my wounded brother were like daggers to the heart, and we all cried with him for the awful pain we had together.
“But God is great and just as our saviour Jesus Christ suffered on the cross for a better world for us, Cristiano cried in the pain of not being able to help his teammates and his beloved people.
“God is just and they deservedly lifted the trophy, and fulfilled the dream; we are champions.”After the emotion settled down following the match, Ronaldo toasted Portugal's win, claiming that the Selecao long deserved their dramatic victory.
Speaking afterwards, he revealed just how much finally achieving success with his national team meant to him.
"No one believed in us," he said. "I had already won everything with clubs. I lacked something with the national team. Portugal have deserved this after many years of sacrifice.
"It was not the final I wanted, but I am very happy. It is a trophy for all the Portuguese, for all immigrants, all the people who believed in us, so I am very happy and very proud."