Chapter 902: A New Dynasty
For Italy, Bruno expressed his regret but still believed Portugal's victory was well-deserved.
"I know some fans might feel sorry for Italy. They gave everything they had in the final. But I want to say that football isn't a game you can win just by trying harder. Tonight, Portugal played better than Italy, and we deserved to win."
After that, Bruno continued answering many questions.
With Portugal successfully defending their European Championship title, he was in great spirits and willingly responded to every question. Many reporters focused on whether he would leave Manchester United this summer, given that he had already led them to five consecutive Premier League titles and four straight UEFA Champions League victories. It seemed nearly impossible for him to achieve more, but Bruno's answer was clear—he would not leave.
During the interview, Bruno also took special questions from a few Chinese reporters, since his wife was Chinese and he was immensely popular among Asian fans.
...
Amid the deafening cheers of the crowd, both teams returned to the pitch for the award ceremony.
It was here that Bruno finally met Roberto Mancini, and the two shook hands and exchanged a few polite words on the sidelines.
Though Sir Alex Ferguson had once referred to Mancini as "the noisy neighbor," his abilities were undeniable—after all, it was under his leadership that Manchester City truly rose to power.
When Mancini and the Italian players went up to receive their silver medals, the Portuguese players followed under the lead of Fernando Santos and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Bruno intentionally stayed at the back of the line, constantly receiving congratulations from fans and guests along the way.
Having guided his club to a seven-trophy season and led Portugal to defend their European title, with 58 goals across all competitions that season and a record 10 goals in this European Championship, Bruno's record was enough to maintain his dominance through 2021.
By the end of this match, it was certain—there would be no suspense over the 2021 FIFA World Player of the Year and Ballon d'Or awards.
Finally, amid thunderous applause and cheers, and the sound of the Portuguese national anthem, Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes lifted the Henri Delaunay Trophy high together.
The moment was forever captured by live broadcasts and the world's media.
...
Portugal's 3–1 victory over Italy in the 2021 European Championship final dominated front pages across nearly every major media outlet worldwide.
Following the match, the Associated Press quickly published its commentary, praising Portugal's triumph under the leadership of Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes. The "Five Shields" had claimed their third major international title within five years.
AP's article noted that although Bruno didn't score that night, he was unquestionably Portugal's most crucial player. His masterful orchestration of the decisive counterattack allowed Portugal to overturn the score and claim one of football's most prestigious titles. At 26 years old, Bruno now possessed three major international trophies while also leading Manchester United to seven championships in one season—the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, League Cup, Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup, and Community Shield—an unprecedented achievement in football history.
This European Championship secured Bruno's place in football history, establishing him as one of the greatest players of all time.
Agence France-Presse also praised him, stating that the "omnipotent Bruno" led Portugal past Italy, stunning the world and securing the continental crown.
It highlighted Bruno's key involvement in the goal that turned the tide, marking it as the pivotal moment of the final.
Italy had been awarded a penalty and seemed poised to take the lead, but Rui Patrício's save followed by Bruno's calm leadership sparked a counterattack that completely reversed the match's outcome. Though he didn't score, that sequence earned Bruno the Man of the Match title and solidified his status as Portugal's chief architect of victory.
Reuters echoed the sentiment: "Bruno dominates Italy—Portugal controls the game completely."
Their article acknowledged Italy's effort but emphasized Portugal's overall superiority. Despite Italy's early lead through a lucky goal and a controversial penalty chance, Portugal's collective strength ultimately prevailed. The second Portuguese goal—ignited by Bruno's counterattack—was the undeniable turning point that sealed the win.
Xinhua News Agency published an article titled "The Chinese Son-in-Law Reigns Over Europe Again!"
It highly praised Bruno's influence in the final, noting that both teams carried historic missions as they stepped into London's New Wembley Stadium and delivered performances reflecting European football's highest level.
Italy, led by Mancini, had surprised the world by reaching the final and even leading briefly. However, Portugal's overall strength made them deserving champions.
Bruno, the "Chinese son-in-law," shone as the match's brightest star. Though he didn't add to his record-breaking goal tally, his calm and intelligence in adversity turned the tide of the game, leading Portugal to victory.
...
Beyond the four major international news agencies, BBC Television quickly aired a post-match analysis hosted by Gary Lineker. He declared, "Italy's 53-year dream of reclaiming the European Championship is shattered—Portugal, led by superstar Bruno, triumph 3–1!"
Lineker noted that Portugal completely controlled the match, demonstrating flawless possession football that left Italy struggling to hold the ball, turning dominance into victory to defend their title.
Though Italy briefly led after a fluke goal and nearly again via a dubious penalty, Portugal's resilience and strength prevailed. First, Rui Patrício denied the penalty, then Bruno's unexpected counterattack flipped the entire match on its head.
Germany's Kicker published the headline "Bruno Crushes Italy," stating that in this globally anticipated final, Bruno's leadership helped Portugal overpower their opponents completely, leaving Jorginho—his biggest rival for the World Player title—overshadowed.
Kicker also emphasized that this was Bruno's third major international trophy: first, Portugal's inaugural European Championship in 2016; then the 2018 World Cup; and now another Euro triumph in 2021.
France's L'Équipe went with the headline "Bruno Creates a New Era." The article stated that the 3–1 victory fulfilled Portugal's dream, with three international titles marking the peak of Portuguese football history—a moment every Portuguese would cherish as their most beautiful dream.
It noted that Bruno fully displayed his ability, earning rapturous applause. From the opening moments he posed constant threats, and his decisive counterattack shaped the entire game's outcome. Even without scoring, he remained the most decisive and dangerous player on the pitch.
L'Équipe concluded that this championship not only helped Portugal achieve a historic treble but also made Bruno the undisputed superstar of 2021.
Italian media were, unsurprisingly, disappointed. La Gazzetta dello Sport lamented that Jorginho lost out in his duel against Bruno, saying it was a pity—many had hoped Jorginho would emerge as the winner.
The report pointed out the decline in Italian football talent in recent years. Jorginho's breakout season saw him leading Chelsea to both the Champions League and FA Cup finals, and steering Italy into this European final—making him one of the top contenders for the Ballon d'Or and FIFA award, provided Italy had won the title.
In post-match interviews, Jorginho admitted the loss was painful but acknowledged Portugal's superiority. He also admitted Italy's tactics had given Bruno too much freedom.
Italian journalists observed that Bruno had beaten Jorginho in all three recent head-to-head clashes—the FA Cup final, the Champions League final, and now the European Championship final.
In this Euro final, Bruno not only masterminded the comeback but also outperformed Jorginho in multiple key metrics, positioning himself as the clear favorite in every 2021 award race.
Portuguese media, meanwhile, celebrated Bruno ecstatically. Lusa News declared the next morning: "After defeating Italy 3–1, Bruno has once again proven that he is the best player in the world, and Portugal's dream of three consecutive international titles has become reality."
Lusa further noted that Bruno's extraordinary performance had earned him unanimous international acclaim, and predicted he would secure both the Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year titles.
They even published a dedicated editorial praising Bruno's contribution, declaring, "The world belongs to him." The article fully affirmed Bruno's global influence and immeasurable contribution to Portuguese football.
(END CHAPTER)
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 40 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Cortez10