In pictures: Portugal parties after Euro win, gives players a hero's welcome
Fresh off their Euro 2016 win, it's pretty much just been one big party in Portugal.
The hero's welcome for the new champions of Europe started from the moment the team plane landed in Lisbon on Monday, with red and green water giving the plane a festive welcome.
Portuguese fans lined the streets of Lisbon to cheer on players after winning #Euro2016 against France.https://t.co/luYzmUevXp
— TorontoStar (@TorontoStar) July 11, 2016
Fans lined up to greet the team at the airport and it was captain and star of the Portugal team, Cristiano Ronaldo, who emerged first to lift the trophy with coach Fernando Santos for onlookers.
Ronaldo gave fans a glimpse behind the scenes of that flight back home to Portugal.
The team loaded onto an open-topped bus to head toward the Belem presidential palace, where they were honored by Portuguese president Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. In a stunning visual, thousands of people packed the streets to catch a glimpse of the team and their new trophy along the route.
The Portugal national team bus arrives at Belém Palace in Lisbon on Monday. (Photo by Carlos Rodrigues/Getty Images)
A sea of people celebrated at Belém Palace in Lisbon. (Photo by Carlos Rodrigues/Getty Images)
Portuguese players celebrate during the Portugal Euro 2016 Victory Parade in Lisbon on Monday. (Photo by Carlos Rodrigues/Getty Images)
Up until Sunday's 1-0 win over France, Portugal had never won a major tournament, after falling in the Euro 2004 final to Greece.
The win was especially important for Cristiano Ronaldo to seal his legacy as one of the sport's all-time greats. Though Ronaldo had to be withdrawn in the final due to injury, he was a driving force that propelled A Seleção through the tournament.
From the looks of it, Ronaldo didn't want to let go of his new hardware.
We can only assume the party in Portugal will be continuing on for a while yet. The people of Portugal and the players that represented their country have waited a long time for this.
MORE FROM FOX SOCCER:
