Dimitri Payet is a man on a mission to bring joy to France and the rest of the soccer world.
The France midfielder scored the winning goal Friday in his country’s 2-1 victory over Romania in the opening game of the 2016 UEFA European Championship. Payet rocketed a swerving, left-footed shot into the top corner of Romania’s goal in the 89th minute to give the host nation an unforgettable victory.
Another angle of Payet's winning goal for France tonight! https://t.co/LDHpiqBDV2
— Football Cvlture (@FootballCVLTURE) June 10, 2016
The goal capped Payet’s man-of-the-match performance.
8 – Dimitri Payet created a match-high eight goalscoring chances for #FRA as well as scoring a goal & assisting another. Magician. #Euro2016
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 10, 2016
It only makes sense he cried tears of joy as he left the field.
Payet coming off in tears after that goal pic.twitter.com/8pLVyWcQHr
— Match Photography (@MatchPhotos) June 10, 2016
His and France’s joy probably mirrors Romania’s pains, as the Eastern European nation was just a few minutes away from starting Euro 2016 with an upset draw. Instead, Payet worked his latest magic trick.
