Euro 2016: 18 years later, the same venue, same opponents & the two Ronaldos

Saint-Dennis (France), July 11: The team result might have been different but for the individuals, there was not much to differentiate between July 10, 2016 and July 12, 1998.

Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese star who mostly saw the final game against France at Stade de France from the benches because of an injury, had a tale similar to another Ronaldo---of Brazil---in the final of the 1998 World Cup, played at the same venue. [Portugal defeat hosts France 1-0, lift first Euro title]

The two strikers, who have a simlar name and can speak Portuguese, were also playing the same opponents---France. Though Cristiano Ronaldo saw a better conclusion as his team went on to lift its maiden Euro, the other Ronaldo was left immobile, giving much basis to the speculation that he was not fit for that high-profile final. Brazil were thrashed 0-3 in that match as France went on to win their first and only world title so far. [Twiteratti goes berserk as Portugal beat France in final]

Cristiano's Portugal won ut after 12 years; Ronaldo's Brazil did it after 4 years

History also saw a parallel between the stories of the two Ronaldos. In case of the Portuguese Ronaldo, it was a dream come true as he had failed to win the cup in the 2004 final when a determined Greek outfit had stunned them 1-0. Twelve years since then, Portugal turned the script around. [Euro 2016 Best XI: Team of the tournament]

The Brazilian Ronaldo also saw the script unfolding for the better four years after that humiliating loss. In the 2002 edition of the World Cup which was hosted jointly by Japan and South Korea, Brazil defeated Germany 2-0 in the final to lift their fifth World Cup. It has been their last world victory till date. Ronaldo had scored both his team's goals in that final to eclipse the bitter memory of 1998.

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