Cristiano Ronaldo's coach and team-mates praised his leadership after Sunday's Nations League final win over Spain in Munich.
The triumph, which left the five-times Champions League winner in tears, was Ronaldo's third on the international stage, accompanying his 2016 European Championship and 2019 Nations League winners' medals.
Goals from captain Kylian Mbappe and Michael Olise earned France a 2-0 victory over Germany in a playoff on Sunday as they finished third in this season's Nations League.
The final [Monday, 1am Bangladesh Time] in Munich has been framed as a showdown between veteran Ronaldo, 40, one of the game's biggest names, and 17-year-old Yamal, the most exciting young talent in world football.
Yamal bagged a brace while Williams scored and provided an assist as the two wingers cut France's makeshift defence to ribbons.
Portugal coach Roberto Martinez and midfielder Bernardo Silva praised Cristiano Ronaldo for his "hunger" and "ambition" after the 40-year-old striker continued to defy the years with a 68th-minute winner against Germany on Thursday, which booked a spot in Sunday's Nations League final.
Ronaldo's 68th-minute tap in, a record-extending 137th international goal, sealed a first win over Germany after five losses, the 40-year-old's longest streak against any national side without tasting victory.
Tournament hosts Germany face Portugal in Munich on Wednesday, followed by defending champions Spain taking on 2021 winners France in Stuttgart on Thursday. The winners will meet in Sunday's final in the Bavarian capital.
Yamal and Dembele have been crucial for club and country this season and the prestigious golden ball trophy could end up with one of them in September during the ceremony in Paris.
England play Greece away on Thursday followed by Ireland three days later at Wembley but nine players, some of them regular starters, who were called up by interim boss Lee Carsley have pulled out due to injuries.
Israeli and Dutch leaders on Friday condemned "anti-Semitic" clashes that erupted after a Europa League football match in Amsterdam overnight, with Israel sending rescue planes for their citizens.
It is the second successive France squad from which the national team captain has been absent after he also missed the October double-header against Israel and Belgium.
Spain, who are also the reigning Nations League champions, became the second team to clinch a quarter-final spot as they followed in the footsteps of Germany by moving to 10 points from a possible 12 in Group A4.
Lee Carsley admitted England deserve a "world class coach" with a winning habit after Sunday's 3-1 victory against Finland left the interim manager's future unresolved.
Belgium coach Domenico Tedesco has urged his players to be brave and clinical against France as his side seek a first competitive victory over their neighbours in 43 years in their Nations League A Group 2 clash in Brussels on Monday.
Spain forward Lamine Yamal will miss Tuesday’s Nations League Group A4 match against Serbia to avoid any risk of injury after suffering a muscle strain, the Spain national team said on Sunday.
Deniz Undav scored twice as Germany defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-1 to edge closer to the Nations League quarter-finals on Friday as 10-man Netherlands rescued a 1-1 draw in Hungary.
England interim boss Lee Carsley has revealed Harry Kane will not be in the starting line-up for Thursday's Nations League clash with Greece as his captain recovers from injury.
"National team coach Julian Nagelsmann has nominated Jonathan Burkardt in Havertz's place. Get well soon Kai," Germany announced on X on Sunday.
