Thousands turn out to welcome home champions Portugal

By The Associated Press
April 28 2025 01:44 AM

CP1157637016 — Portugal\'s Cristiano Ronaldo, with coach Fernando Santos at left, lifts the Euro 2016 trophy after defeating France in the final, as they arrive at the Humberto Delgado Airport in Lisbon, Portugal, Monday, July 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Paulo Duarte)

LISBON, Portugal – Tens of thousands of people have greeted Portugal on arrival in Lisbon a day after the team won the European Championship for its first major trophy.

Dozens of airport staff gathered on the tarmac to cheer on the players as they arrived from France just after midday Monday.

Captain Cristiano Ronaldo and coach Fernando Santos held the cup up to great cheers on stepping out of the plane.

Thousands of people packed the streets around the airport to greet the team, which travelled in an open-topped, double-decker bus to the Belem presidential palace to meet Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.

They were later to begin a parade through the city.

Portugal beat France 1-0 in extra time on Sunday in the final in Paris.

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