Monday 13 June 2016 15:01, UK
Bastian Schweinsteiger was hailed as the "comeback king" after returning from injury to score in Germany's opening Euro 2016 victory over Ukraine.
The Germany captain, having previously played just 245 minutes of football in 2016 due to a torn knee ligament suffered in March, dismissed any doubts about his fitness by scoring a superb goal on Sunday.
After Shkodran Mustafi's powerful header gave the reigning world champions an early lead at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille, Schweinsteiger scored his first international goal for nearly five years to seal a 2-0 win in their Group C opener.
The Germany squad and German press were quick to heap the praise on the Manchester United midfielder.
"This goal delights the whole of Germany!", wrote German daily newspaper Bild.
"Everyone enjoys his success and is pleased for him, especially Jogi's boys!"
Schweinsteiger scored in the 92nd minute with just his third touch of the ball having been on the pitch for just two minutes.
The 31-year-old's brief cameo made German football history as his 14th appearance at European championships finals overtook Philipp Lahm's previous record. He later admitted he was out of breath from his long sprint towards the German bench to celebrate the goal with his team-mates.
"It's unbelievable, that something like that happened, you can only dream about it," he said.
"I only had around 300 playing minutes under my belt this year, and then that happens. I still haven't got the strength for 90 or 120 minutes. I'm okay for a half, but I feel really good."
German fans are particularly delighted to have their skipper back after Schweinsteiger was left bloodied by a battling display in the 2014 World Cup final to help win the Brazil 2014 World Cup.
"Bloodied fighter and comeback king! Why we're all behind 'Schweini' now," said the Bild headline.
There was also plenty of praise from his team-mates.
"It's super. Crazy. What a story! I'm delighted for him," forward Thomas Muller said.
Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer added: "I hope that he can play from the start as soon as possible and show what a class player he is. Everyone knows his qualities, he brings order to our game."
Manager Joachim Low was also delighted for his skipper: "I think the goal gives Bastian personally, and all of us, a boost".
"Too old! Too heavy! Too slow! You've exceeded yourself!," wrote his older brother Tobias Schweinsteiger, a former pro footballer and now under-17 coach at Bayern Munich, on Twitter.
"Never write B. Schweinsteiger off. Congratulations, brother."
