Social media was buzzing -- some laughed, some offered comfort ... some just rolled their eyes.

Whatever he does, wherever he goes, few footballers split opinion like Cristiano Ronaldo.

The ripped torso, the shirtless posing and the manicured image have given his critics plenty of ammunition in maintaining their argument that he is one of the most self-absorbed players on the planet.

His petulance -- criticizing Iceland for being "small-minded" after Portugal failed to beat the football minnow at Euro 2016, then days later throwing a reporter's microphone into a lake -- does not help his cause, either.

Then there are the endless endorsements which have helped bring in $32 million of the $88 million he has taken home over the past 12 months -- the other $56 million coming courtesy of his salary and bonuses at Real Madrid, according to Forbes.

Ronaldo's huge social media profile does little to deter his critics -- he has over 200 million followers across Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

As a footballer, few doubt his talents but there are those who perceive him as arrogant rather than someone who oozed self-belief -- as if he has become a brand rather than a person.

After the Portugal captain released his own film, a documentary detailing his life, Guardian journalist Daniel Taylor came to the conclusion that the finished product was so vain "it is difficult not to come away with the feeling that Ronaldo must shout his own name during sex."

But watching one of the greatest players in a generation limp out of what could possibly be his last international final on Sunday may have briefly softened even his harshest of critics.

When Dimitri Payet won the ball with a robust challenge, Ronaldo was left writhing around on the floor in agony.

The 31-year-old did not recover from the seventh-minute tackle -- twice he tried to run it off, twice he failed.

When he left the action after 25 minutes it was assumed that Portugal's hopes followed too.

"He went off in tears," Ronaldo's former Manchester United teammate Owen Hargreaves told CNN.

"He was devastated and thought that his chance had gone for him to lead his country.

"His teammates rallied around him. They made some tactical changes and were able to do enough.

"You could see what it meant to him. He was on the side being a manager, being a coach, pushing his players on, telling them to get back and defend which I've never seen from him before."

For Ronaldo, this could be the last time he arrives at a major international tournament at the peak of his powers -- he came to Euro 2016 having scored 51 goals in 48 games for Real, winning the European Champions League for the second time in three years.

While his chief rival Lionel Messi retired from the international game after Argentina's Copa America final defeat by Chile this month, Ronaldo could play on for another six or seven years according to national coach Fernando Santos.

His role in the team may change by the time the 2018 World Cup comes around, but he remains integral to this current side.

And yet, while many predicted Portugal's almost immediate downfall after the loss of its talisman, what followed was a performance of a team which not only fought and battled, but outwitted its opponent on a tactical level too.

He may not have been on the field, but that did not prevent Ronaldo from inspiring those around him.

"At halftime, Cristiano had fantastic words for us," Portugal defender Cedric Soares told reporters.

"He gave us a lot of confidence and said, 'Listen people, I'm sure we will win, so stay together and fight for it.' He was fantastic.

"His attitude was unbelievable. Always he helped a lot our teammates, he always had a lot of motivational words and all the team of course reacted to them, so it was very good."

(CNN)