Cristiano Ronaldo is about to make European history when he is called up to the Portuguese national team for Euro 2024 and just by playing he will become the first player to appear in six different Euro Cups.
Ronaldo holds the record with five appearances at the Euro Cup (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020-2021), surpassing legends such as Gianluigi Buffon, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and many others with four appearances.
The numbers speak of Ronaldo on the playing field of the Euro Cup
Star Ronaldo debuted at Euro 2004, scoring two goals and two assists in six games as Portugal lost in the final against Greece. He finally captured the championship trophy, as captain, at Euro 2016, when his hometown team defeated France 1-0 in the final.
The Portuguese striker has only missed one game in the last five European Championships, when he did not participate in the final group game of Euro 2008, a 0-2 defeat against Switzerland, after Ronaldo’s team won the go to the next round.
Ronaldo set a record sixth appearance in a European Championship final. Photo: GETTY.
Notably, Ronaldo also won the title of top scorer with five goals in Euro 2020-2021. He is also the player with the most goals in Euro Cup history with 14 goals in 25 games, five more than second-placed Michel Platini of France.
Ronaldo was in top form during the 2024 European qualifiers, when he scored 10 goals (second on the scoring list) to lead his team to a perfect record of 10 wins. And with 42 goals in 42 games for Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr this season, new Portugal coach Roberto Martinez hopes Ronaldo can inspire the team to win Euro 2024.
And yet, Cristiano Ronaldo can break a number of records at the next Euro Cup. Here are some of the milestones he was able to achieve: 1. Oldest player to score in the Euro Cup: the record is currently held by the Austrian Ivica Vastic, who scored at the age of 38 years and 257 days in the 2008 Euro Cup. 39 years and 134 days old, Ronaldo could surpass this record when Portugal begin their campaign against the Czech Republic on June 18.
Forward Ronaldo had the opportunity to reappear with his junior Bruno, who played for Manchester United in the Portuguese national team. Photo: GETTY.
2. The oldest player to participate in the Euro Cup – At 39 years and 91 days, the current record is held by German Lothar Matthaus, who participated in Euro 2000 with the German team. Ronaldo can surpass this record if he plays for Portugal in the tournament; 3. Multi-time European Championship captain: Iker Casillas led the Spanish team to two consecutive European Championships in 2008 and 2012, becoming the only captain to lift the trophy multiple times.
Why did coach Martínez choose Ronaldo?
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner scored 42 goals and provided 13 assists in 42 games for Al Nassr this season alone. These achievements earned him a call-up to the national team for the Euro Cup, where he would become the first player in history to compete in six different Euros.
Portugal’s current squad features world-class players such as Bruno Fernandes, Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva and Joao Félix, among many other stars. Martínez and his team are one of the main candidates for the European throne and, if they live up to expectations, Ronaldo will become the second captain in history to lift the Euro Cup trophy multiple times.
Coach Martínez welcomed Ronaldo because he is a good striker and influential in the Portuguese team’s locker room. Photo: GETTY.
Portugal coach Roberto Martínez also explained why he chose Cristiano Ronaldo in the squad for Euro 2024. The coach praised the 39-year-old star for his performance with Al Nassr in the professional tournament in Saudi Arabia, while the striker Ronaldo continues to maintain his excellent level. way of scoring in the Middle East.
Speaking about the choice of the team’s star striker, Martínez shared with Portugal’s O Jogo: “About Cristiano Ronaldo, I think it is better to talk about statistics. A player scores 42 goals in 42 playing for his club and shows terrible instincts. Ronaldo also “He brings together the physical ability and quality in the forward position that we really like and need.”
And he added, “Our decisions are not solely based on the tournaments in which players participate. The Portuguese team is focused on building the strongest squad possible, and I select the 26 best players for that goal. We don’t just evaluate individual performances; we also consider a player’s influence in the locker room. In this regard, no one surpasses Ronaldo.”
