Payet says he didn't mean to injure Ronaldo: I'm not a nasty player

Put your pitchforks down, Portugal. Dimitri Payet didn't do it on purpose.

The Frenchman insists he did not intentionally injure Cristiano Ronaldo during Sunday's Euro 2016 final, saying his robust tackle that forced the Portuguese captain out of the contest in the opening half was unintentional.

Related: Heartbreaking photos of Ronaldo's Euro 2016 final exit

"I came in for a tackle, full stop," Payet told reporters after Portugal's historic 1-0 triumph that saw the Iberian nation win its first major title.

"I got the ball back, but if I hurt him it wasn't intentional - it's not in my nature to be a nasty player on the pitch. There's no question about that."

Related - Ronaldo's mother: 'The game is to kick the ball and not hurt the opponent'

Payet clattered into Ronaldo in the opening minutes of the match at the Stade de France, his right leg thumping into Ronaldo's left and buckling his knee. The Portuguese immediately crumbled to the turf.

Despite his effort to fight through the knee ailment - his leg heavily bandaged, Ronaldo played on for about another 20 minutes - the bronzed scoring machine was ultimately stretchered off the pitch in tears.

He emerged from the bowels of the Stade de France in extra time, and come the final whistle, his tears of sorrow turned to those of joy as he celebrated Eder's 109th-minute goal, and Portugal's subsequent triumph.