The only man to play in six Euros and the tournament’s record goalscorer with 14 goals, he is still to score a penalty outside of a shootout. A winner against goal-shy France, whose players have yet to score a single goal from open play, could be written in the stars in Hamburg on Friday.

“It’s undoubtedly my last European Championship,” he told Portuguese reporters after Monday’s match, given he will be 43 at the next Euros.

“But it’s amazing what football has brought me. The joy of the game, the joy of seeing my fans, my family and the affection that people have for me.”

It looked like his Euro journey could end in floods of tears after Jan Oblak superbly saved his penalty in extra time of the 0-0 draw.

The 39-year-old’s emotions became the big talking point on social media, with images of Ronaldo and his mother in the stands crying dominating coverage of the last 16 match.

But Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa spared his captain more pain by first denying Slovenia’s Benjamin Sesko after the onrushing striker looked near certain to score after Pepe’s mistake.

Costa then became the first man to save three penalties in a Euro shootout as the 2016 champions progressed, with Ronaldo predictably scoring their first spotkick.

“You can’t fail if you don’t try,” said Ronaldo, who apologised to Portugal fans for the first penalty miss after converting in the shoot-out.

“Making people happy is what motivates me the most,” he added as tears almost flowed again.

“We will now have a difficult game against France, who are one of the favourites for the title. But we are going to war.”