Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo said his side "will come back stronger" after the defending champions were eliminated from Euro 2020 by Belgium in the round of 16 on Sunday.
"The fans supported us tirelessly from start to finish," Ronaldo wrote on Instagram on Monday.
"It was not possible to achieve what we set out to do, but we thank you deeply. We are proud of our journey and we gave everything to defend this title."
Portugal were defeated 1-0 by Belgium. Ronaldo, who scored five goals in the tournament, missed the opportunity of taking sole possession of the international scoring world record after equalling Iranian Ali Daei's 109 goals.
But with 14 goals at Euro tournaments, Ronaldo is the competition's overall top scorer.
Portugal prime minister Antonio Costa offered some words of consolation.
"The fight and the effort were not enough to get to the next round, but they have once again honoured the colours of Portugal," the head of government wrote on Twitter.
The disappointment was all over the Portuguse media. "The qualification hit the post. The team fought until the last second. The stars cried in the dressing room," paper Jornal de Noticias wrote.
"We will always have Paris. Of the European champions it remains now only a beautiful memory," sports newspaper A Bola wrote in reference to the Euro 2016, when Portugal secured the title in the French capital after beating the hosts 1-0 after extra-time in the final.
Source: DPA
