Ronaldo, Portugal knocked out of Euro 2024 by France after Mbappe's side aces in penalty shootout

Another day, another penalty shootout in the Euros as the much anticipated Portugal vs France ended up being a penalty shootout. A match-up which was expected to be a goal fest saw a lack of goals as neither Cristiano Ronaldo nor Kylian MBappe got the ball going to net the ball. In the end, it was France who ended up being victorious after taking a 5-3 lead in the penalty shootout. 

Ronaldo's hopes dashed, Mbappe dances in glee as France kick out Portugal from Euro 2024 to reach semifinal

On Friday, France defeated Portugal 5-3 in a penalty shootout to advance to the semifinals of the European Championship, so foiling Cristiano Ronaldo's hopes of winning the championship in his final tournament appearance. According to Ronaldo, 39, this was his sixth and final European Championship. Joao Felix struck a post with a penalty in the shootout after the game ended 0-0 after extra time, and Theo Hernández scored the game-winning kick. In its previous two major competitions, France has lost in penalty shootouts—in the 2022 World Cup final and in the last 16 of the Euros. Following their victory against Germany in Stuttgart via extra time, France will take on Spain in the semifinals.

The 39-year-old Ronaldo, who had earlier converted Portugal's first penalty in the shootout and later consoled fellow veteran Pepe, 41, as the defence sobbed on his captain's shoulder, had achieved a record sixth and final European Championship. It is unclear if the five-time World Player of the Year will play for his nation through to the 2026 World Cup. Ronaldo's tenure in the Euros featured the triumph in 2016 — when Portugal defeated France in the final.

The win put an end to the sorrow that Kylian Mbappé and France had suffered in shootouts during their previous two major tournament losses—in the 2022 World Cup final and in the last 16 of the 2021 Euros. After taking a few hits to his fractured nose, which was covered by a protective mask, Mbappé was substituted after the first half of extra time and did not even receive a penalty in the shootout.