page_title: Renato Sanches
section_title: UEFA Euro 2016
hierarchical_section_title: Renato Sanches / International career / UEFA Euro 2016
caption_attribution_description: English: renato sanches playing for portugal against poland in the UEFA Euro 2016
context_page_description: Renato Júnior Luz Sanches ComM is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for French club Lille and the Portugal national team.
  Sanches began his career at Benfica, making his professional debut for the reserves in October 2014 and for the first team in October 2015. In his first and only season with them, he helped Benfica win the Primeira Liga and Taça da Liga double, being awarded Primeira Liga Breakthrough Player and Golden Boy in the process.
  Sanches' performances then attracted German side Bayern Munich, who signed him for an initial €35 million, the highest fee at the time for a Portuguese player playing in the Primeira Liga. His performances fell during his first season with the club, leading him to rarely play. He also could not integrate with the team and had to compete with more experienced players, so he was loaned out to Premier League side Swansea City to play more regularly. However, he did not improve and struggled with injuries.
  After returning to Bayern for 2018–19 and playing more matches under manager Niko Kovač, he would only play three matches as a substitute in his final season with them.
context_section_description: Sanches was called-up for UEFA Euro 2016, making him the youngest Portuguese to be selected for an international competition, breaking a record held by Cristiano Ronaldo for 12 years. Sanches made his competitive debut on 14 June in the team's opening match against Iceland in Saint-Étienne, replacing João Moutinho for the final 19 minutes of a 1–1 draw. He contributed to the only goal of the match in a 1–0 extra-time victory in the round of 16 against Croatia on 25 June, and was elected man of the match. Observing that performance, former Portuguese international António Sousa said, "When he's on the ball you don't notice how young he is. Physically and mentally, he is more than ready," while Fernando Santos exalted Sanches as a player immune to pressure.
  Five days later in the quarter-finals against Poland, Sanches overtook Ronaldo's record as the youngest Portuguese to start in a major tournament. After a one-two with Nani, Sanches shot from outside the box and equalised in the first half to become the youngest player to score in a knockout match at a UEFA European Championship and the third-youngest overall. Following the 1–1 draw, he scored Portugal's second attempt in their penalty shootout victory, and was again elected man of the match. Following the match, teammates Nani and José Fonte praised Sanches' stamina, confidence and desire to learn from his elders. After his nation's 1–0 extra-time victory over hosts France in the final of the tournament, Sanches received the Young Player of the Tournament Award for his performances.
caption: Sanches scoring the equaliser for Portugal against Poland at UEFA Euro 2016
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