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.
France captain Kylian Mbappe has been left out of his team's UEFA Nations League matches this month after coach Didier Deschamps on Thursday named his squad.
The group rivals finish the international break level on points, with Germany ahead on goal difference.
Belgium captain Kevin De Bruyne's future with the national side has been thrown into doubt after he slammed his teammates as "not good enough" after a 2-0 Nations League defeat to France.
The Italians built on an impressive win away in France at the weekend as they beat Israel 2-1 in a game played on neutral territory in Budapest due to the security situation in the Middle East.
The 31-year-old Bayern Munich striker, who has scored 66 goals in 99 appearances for England since his debut in 2015, is the first player to become an England men's centurion since striker Wayne Rooney in November 2014.
"This team managed to win a historic match," Spain manager Luis de la Fuente said afterwards.
Ronaldo had reached 900 career goals with his 131st international strike in Thursday's victory over Croatia.
The Dutch were 2-1 up at the break but allowed Bosnia back into the match at 3-2 with some 15 minutes remaining, only to go on and score two late goals for a convincing winning margin.
New-look Germany, who have set their sights on the 2026 World Cup after their quarter-final run at the Euro on home soil in July, no longer have any 2014 World Cup winners in the squad following the international retirements of Thomas Mueller, Toni Kroos and Manuel Neuer.
England interim manager Lee Carsley does not plan to sing the British national anthem before his first game in charge against Ireland in Dublin on Saturday.
