The sister of Portugal football star Cristiano Ronaldo has compared his suffering from an injury during the Euro 2016 football final to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross.
In a post on Instagram, Katia Aveiro wrote that the tears shed after her wounded brother broke down and was stretchered off the pitch due to a knee injury were like daggers to the heart. Many Portugese cried along with him.
"But God is great and I knew that just as our saviour Jesus Christ sacrificed himself the cross for a better world, Cristiano shed tears for the pain of not being able to fight with his companions to the end for his beloved homeland."
As God is just, she wrote, justice in the end was done, the dream was fulfilled and Portugal are now champions.
In a subsequent post she also wrote: "Again here is the proof that you you are special, you defy the laws of humanity, thou art my brother."
Continuing the theological imagery of the Cross, she went on: "Your father never abandoned you in your greatest time of pain and suffering .... I know who comforted you at this time, it was our father, he wanted as much as you this cup to go to our country."
Ronaldo, 31, who plays for Real Madrid, was captain of Portugal as they took to the pitch against France. He was injured seven minutes in when he was in collision with Dimiti Payet of France, who plays for West Ham United in the UK. He tried but failed to play through it and was carried off after 25 minutes, in physical and spiritual agony in a blow that seemed to threaten Portugal's chance at the title.
Yet at the end, Eder Lopes' goal in extra time resurrected the fortunes of Portugal, he was able to lift the trophy at Stade de France after all.
