When Greece Made Cristiano Ronaldo Cry
July 4, 2004, was one of the saddest days for Portugal, as the national team faced Greece in an unprecedented Euro Cup final. The Greeks, known then as the "Giant Killers," reached the final after defeating Zidane's France and Nedved's Czech Republic.
Portugal's defeat against Greece in the opening match was a prelude to what would happen in the final. Players like Figo and a young Cristiano Ronaldo couldn't overcome the Greeks, who seemed destined to make history from the start of the tournament.
In the title match, Portugal had the responsibility of winning at home. However, as the match progressed, Greece grew stronger. Ten minutes into the second half, during a corner kick, Charisteas headed the ball to score a historic goal in front of 62,865 spectators.
Under the pressure of losing as the favorites, Cristiano Ronaldo and Figo tried to turn the situation around, but the Greek miracle had come to pass, and Greece was crowned Euro champion in Portugal. This event marked one of the saddest days for Cristiano Ronaldo, an emotional burden he carried until the 2016 Euro Cup in France, where he finally became a champion.
