After France secured its victory against Germany, the media seemed to deem them the front runners for the finals. The team's speed and midfield strength posed a significant threat for the Portuguese team who had never held a major soccer title prior. Even a French bus adorned with "Champions D'Europe" drove around the city in preparation to celebrate, the victory set to breathe new life into the nation eight months after the devastating terrorist attacks. This, in itself, would have been a story to root for, and many did.

However, if we have learned anything over the series of games in this championship, it is that the game of soccer thrives in plot twists. Any group united by the unwavering desire to succeed can come out on top, and that is exactly what Portugal did last night. They did not abide by the script, and instead, wrote their own story.

One of the most heart-wrenching moments of yesterday's game was watching Cristiano Ronaldo buckle from a knee injury in the seventh minute after a collision with France's midfielder Dimitri Payet. At first, it did not seem like it would pose a problem to Portugal's 31-year-old superstar player, but as the game continued, his face revealed otherwise. Ronaldo was reluctantly taken out of the game on a stretcher in the 25th minute.

It was painful to watch, and many of us probably thought that Portugal's chance ended there since the team's strategy seemed to rest on their two star forwards: Ronaldo and Nani. However, at the moment of Ronaldo's exit, a powerful symbol appeared on his face that changed the game: a moth.

It seems ridiculous that an insect the internet joked about could serve such a crucial role in the game, but it did. In times of darkness and uncertainty, a moth will faithfully move toward the light regardless of the outcome. In a sense, that is exactly how team Portugal played the game last night. Though odds may not have been in their favor after losing the famous team captain, they banded together as one with a mind-blowing defense tactic. Finally, the team reached their light, and victory came when substitute Éderzito António Macedo Lopes scored in extra time to make the score 1-0.

It is important for a team to have its stars, but Portugal's well deserved win came from the strength and solidarity of each skilled player and a brilliant leadership from Coach Fernando Santos and Ronaldo on the sideline.

The game of soccer never ceases to deliver its surprises. It was a joy to listen to the stories told by the Euro Cup 2016, stories where a team (and an infamous moth) with diligence and faith wrote their way into history.