Portugal forward Ricardo Quaresma has heaped praise on his national teammate Cristiano Ronaldo.

The 32-year-old, who currently plays for Turkish club Besiktas, claims that the Portugal captain is the only person he admires in football.

Ronaldo was forced to leave the pitch with a knee njury during the first half of the Euro2016 final against France but re-emerged from the dressing room with a heavily strapped leg to support his teammates from the sidelines.

Quaresma told O Jogo of the Real Madrid star: "Even with the injury [Ronaldo] never stopped, he always supported the team and that's why I say, not just as a friend, that he is the only person I admire in football.

"I admire the strength he has.

"We have a great captain, it is an honour to play alongside him and have him in the national team and all Portuguese people should be proud to have Cristiano.

"[His critics] speak of him and do not know him as a person. He is a great person, a great captain and he deserves everything he has achieved in football.

"He always has confidence and is positive and that's what he gave us."