EDER made himself a national hero in Portugal in the summer of 2016.
The retired striker, now 36, came off the bench to score an extra-time winner in the European Championship final.
EPAEder was the main man for Portugal in 2016[/caption]
–His late goal sparked wild scenes[/caption]
Cristiano Ronaldo was off the pitch injured and Eder took his chance to write himself into the history books after replacing Renato Sanches.
But while Ronaldo is once again carrying the torch for Portugal this summer, the unlikely hero is very much out of sight and mind.
Eight years on, Eder has all-but been forgotten – most-recently popping into fans’ heads after carrying the Euro 2020 trophy around Wembley ahead of kick-off England’s final against Italy.
Viewers noticed the forward looked stony-faced bordering on miserable.
But for Eder, the trudge around the pitch in front of 65,000 fans may have reminded him just how far he had fallen.
We take a look at just what happened to the striker since that iconic night in 2016.
A year prior to the tournament, Eder joined then-Premier League outfit Swansea in a £5million deal from Portuguese giants Braga.
But after failing to score in his first 15 games, the striker was loaned to Ligue 1 side Lille for the remainder of the season.
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Eder scored six times in 13 games to squeeze his way into the Portugal squad alongside Ronaldo, Nani, Sanches and Co.
Ronaldo and Nani had been the main men throughout the tournament, with three goals apiece as they beat Poland and Wales in the knockout stages to reach the final against France.
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Chasing the win, Eder was brought on to replace Sanches – who was enjoying a breakout career moment at the tournament – with ten minutes left in the 90.
Incredibly, the striker grabbed his first and only goal of the competition with just 11 minutes of extra-time to play.
And with France unable to find a way back into the game, Portugal were crowned champions.
Lille signed the striker permanently that summer, hoping for more heroics.
How Portugal have performed at the Euros with Cristiano Ronaldo
CRISTIANO RONALDO has been a model of longevity for more than two decades in an outstanding international career.
Euro 2004
After making his international debut in 2003, Ronaldo’s first Euros came in 2004.
Ronaldo marked his Euro debut with a goal in a 2-1 defeat to Greece – his first for Portugal.
He scored his second in the semi-final win over the Netherlands, but Portugal met Greece again in the final, losing 1-0 in shock result.
Euro 2008
Ronaldo was Portugal captain four years later but Euro 2008 was the least impactful tournament he’s had.
There was still time for a standout performance, though, as Ronaldo scored once and set up two more in a group-stage win over the Czech Republic.
Euro 2012
Playing at Real Madrid at the time, Ronaldo was the top goalscorer at Euro 2012, with three goals, including a brace in the group stage against the Netherlands.
Portugal’s quarter-final against Czech Republic was heading towards a stalemate with 10 minutes to go and they needed a special moment from him.
His powerful header in the dying minutes took Portugal to the semi-finals where they lost on penalties to Spain.
Euro 2016
Ronaldo scored three goals in Euro 2016, with Portugal crowned CHAMPIONS after defeating France 1-0 in extra time in the final.
After suffering an injury inside the opening 16 minutes against France, he was forced to watch from the sidelines.
Yet the Portugal captain became a cheerleader, and helped coach his team-mates to the historic victory.
He matched Michel Platini’s record of nine goals by the end of Euro 2016.
Euro 2020
Ronaldo made history again with FIVE goals at Euro 2020, the most of any player at a Euros.
Yet it was arguably Portugal’s least exciting affair, as they exited in the Round of 16 following a 1-0 defeat to Belgium.
With his goals in this tournament, Ronaldo became the top goalscorer at the European Championship with 14 goals.
But after just six goals in 31 Ligue 1 games, he was loaned to Russian Premier League side Lokomotiv Moscow, before joining permanently a year later.
Despite being his nation’s Euro 2016 hero, Eder failed to receive a call-up for the 2018 World Cup in Russia – where he’d spent the last year playing club football.
The forward stayed at Lokomotiv until the summer of 2021, scoring a measly 15 goals in 119 matches for the Russians.
Most recently, Eder played in Saudi Arabia for Al Raed FC on a short-term deal in 2022.
He retired to little fanfare after being given a job at the Portuguese FA having struggled to find a club.
GettyEder did not look as happy the next time he got his hands on the trophy[/caption]
