Cristiano Ronaldo: Real Madrid forward promises to 'come back stronger' from knee injury on Instagram

The Portugal international suffered the problem during his country's historic European Championships final win

Ronaldo was forced to watch much of the Euros final from the sideline (Getty)

Cristiano Ronaldo has promised to return stronger than ever from the knee injury which he suffered in last week’s European Championships final.

The Portugal international was stretchered off the pitch at the Stade de France during the first half of his national team’s historic 1-0 extra-time win over France.

The injury, sustained after a tackle by Dimitri Payet, is likely to keep Ronaldo out of the start of the club season, but the Real Madrid forward is confident he will fully recover from the problem.

"Hi everyone! I just wanted to thank all my fans," he said in a short video on his Instagram account.

"I wanted to tell them that all is well and that I will come back much stronger. Thank you, long live Portugal!"

Ronaldo, 31, was pictured wearing a protective brace on the affected knee while holidaying in Ibiza this week and will not travel on Madrid’s pre-season tour of North America.

The forward is also expected to miss his club’s Super Cup tie with Sevilla, to be held in Trondheim, Norway on 9 August.

Ronaldo’s return has been pencilled in for Madrid’s home league meeting with newly-promoted Osasuna on 11 September.