Paris: The fate of Sunday's intriguing European Championship final between France and Portugal at the Stade de France weighs largely on two men wearing the number seven shirt, one already at the top of the game and the other one getting there fast.
Cristiano Ronaldo, accustomed to fighting with Lionel Messi for the right to be called the best player in the world, takes on a different challenger in France's Antoine Griezmann, this time for European supremacy.
The pair know each other well, having faced off six weeks ago in the Champions League final in which Griezmann missed a penalty for Atletico Madrid in regular time before Ronaldo sealed city rivals Real's victory by converting the decisive spot-kick in the shoot-out.
Since the start of Euro 2016, Griezmann has bounced back from that disappointment, scoring six goals, a feat no player had achieved in one tournament since France great Michel Platini hit a record nine at the 1984 finals.
Ronaldo, by contrast, had to soak up a lot of criticism after lacklustre showings by his high standards before playing a decisive role by scoring a goal and setting up another in a 2-0 semi-final win over Wales.
Griezmann was even more impressive in France's semi-final win over world champions Germany, scoring both goals in a 2-0 victory to give the host nation their first win over the Germans in a competitive match in 58 years.
The two now hold the keys to Sunday's final, in which France will chase a third European title after 1984 and 2000 and a third triumph on home soil after Euro 1984 and the 1998 World Cup.
France right-back Bacary Sagna, who will face the daunting task of keeping a close eye on Ronaldo in the final, said teammate Griezmann now belonged to the same elite club as the Portugal forward.
"Ronaldo, we know him. He's one of the best players in the world - if not the best - and he has worked very hard to get there. Antoine, to me, is right up there too, in the same league as Ronaldo and Messi."
Griezmann, who left for Spain as a teenager after being turned down by French academies because he was regarded as not being big enough, matured to become one of the world's most dangerous strikers. "It's a kind of revenge for him after the French academies didn't take him," Sagna said. "He made it the hard way and he deserves to be where he is."
For Portugal, they have featured in the final of a major event only once before, when they lost 0-1 to Greece in the decider of the 2004 European Championship on home soil, with a 19-year-old Ronaldo in their team.
"Twelve years on and I'm in another final," said the Real Madrid forward. "This makes me proud. I always dreamt about winning something for Portugal and I hope it will be this time."
"Cristiano's an exceptional player and it won't be easy against him," Sagna said. "What you have to do is keep a close eye on him all the time, stay close to him and make sure you don't allow him too much space."
Portugal, who have won only one match over 90 minutes in this tournament, have yet to sparkle, although there was some improvement in their semi-final victory, notably from Ronaldo, who scored with a majestic header.
"I'm certain that the whole group will think of it as the game of their lives because Portugal have never won a title," midfielder Joao Mario said. Their coach, Fernando Santos, said the tournament was not a style contest and only victory mattered. "I judge my team by whether we play well or badly, not by whether we are pretty or ugly," Santos had said.
Portugal also received a boost on Saturday when central defender Pepe trained with his teammates and appeared to be free of injury problems. The Brazilian-born player missed the semi-final win over Wales on Wednesday because of a thigh injury and had trained separately on Friday.
But the 33-year-old took full part in Saturday's exercises and appeared to be ready for the final.
However, France will start as slight favourites, having won their last 10 meetings with Portugal dating back to 1975, and having scored seven goals in their last two games in the competition.
