Quaresma: Ronaldo is the only person I admire in football

The Portugal winger hailed his captain's courage after replacing him as a substitute following his injury in the Euro 2016 final against France

Ricardo Quaresma has hailed Cristiano Ronaldo as the only person in football he admires after 's Euro 2016 victory.

Quaresma replaced Ronaldo in the first half of the final against after the captain suffered a knee injury.

The star re-emerged from the dressing room to encourage his team-mates from the sidelines, however, and Eder's goal in extra time secured a 1-0 win and the trophy.

"Even with the injury [Ronaldo] never stopped, he always supported the team and that's why I say, not just as a friend, that he is the only person I admire in football," Quaresma told O Jogo. "I admire the strength he has."

He added: "We have a great captain, it is an honour to play alongside him and have him in the national team and all Portuguese people should be proud to have Cristiano.

"[His critics] speak of him and do not know him as a person. He is a great person, a great captain and he deserves everything he has achieved in football. He always has confidence and is positive and that's what he gave us."