Tens of thousands of fans have lined the streets of Lisbon as the victorious Portuguese squad returned home as European champions.

Following their extra-time win over France, Fernando Santos and his players touched down this afternoon with the manager Fernando Santos and team captain Cristiano Ronaldo the first two off the plane with the Henri Delaunay Trophy.

Ronaldo took the mic to speak on stage to the huge crowd.

“The victory in this European tournament is for you all, all of you who are here in Portugal and for all the emigrants,” said the Portugal captain.

“These players here and this coach, all the technical staff, we are now part of the Portuguese history.

“We are the first to win an important competition in this country but you deserved it, you were spectacular from the beginning until the end for believing in us.

“Viva Portugal!”

The champions were celebrated with an open top bus parade through the city before an official audience with the Portuguese President.

“It is proven there’s no accident nor luck, nor are they an ordinary team,” said President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.

“They were, they are the best in Europe. And all Europe and the whole world has said it.”

As a result of their victory, there are four Portuguese players in the Team of the Tournament, which is made-up entirely of teams that made it as far as the semi-finals.

Following his heroics last night, Portuguse keeper Rui Patrício is included along with Ronaldo and the defensive pair of Pepe and Raphaël Guerreiro.

The team is (4-2-3-1): Rui Patrício (Portugal); Joshua Kimmich (Germany), Jérôme Boateng (Germany), Pepe (Portugal), Raphaël Guerreiro (Portugal); Toni Kroos (Germany), Joe Allen (Wales); Antoine Griezmann (France), Aaron Ramsey (Wales), Dmitri Payet (France); Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal).