Cristiano Ronaldo is the most prolific goalscorer in international football history.
In his astonishing 198 caps for Portugal, CR7 has bagged an even more astonishing 122 goals – goals which helped his nation win the Euros in 2016 and the Nations League in 2018/19.
But will Ronaldo have another chance to add more silverware to his nation’s trophy cabinet at the next European Championships?
Cristiano Ronaldo, will be 39 years of age by the time the competition comes around, but his abnormal fitness levels from someone just shy of 40 make us believe he will keep his promise of featuring next summer.
Following Portugal’s underwhelming exit from the World Cup, Ronaldo insisted that he would ‘never turn my back on my colleagues and my country’ as he sets his sights on leading his country at Euro 2024.
In September last year, Ronaldo was awarded the best scorer award at the 2022 Gala Quinas de Ouro for his then-117 goals with Portugal.
“I hope to be a part of the [Portuguese Football] Federation for a few more years,” Ronaldo said. “I still feel motivated, my ambition is high. My path in the national team is not over. We have many quality youngsters.
“I will be at the World Cup, and I want to be at the European [Championship in 2024].”
With Benfica frontman Goncalo Ramos hot on his heels as his likely successor, Ronaldo will have to ensure he’s on his best form to keep his place at the top of the Portugal tree. Former head coach Fernando Santos stripped Ronaldo of his place after the latter’s reaction to being substituted against South Korea.
Up stepped Ramos who famously netted a hat-trick as he deputised for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner. Ramos would then keep his place at Ronaldo’s expense, but as a result, was part of their nation’s 1-0 defeat to Morocco in the quarter-finals.
Santos has since been shown the door, and Ronaldo continues to spearhead Portugal’s new era under new stewardship.
Should he step foot on German soil in Euro 2024, it would mean he would’ve featured in six European Championships, 20 years after his first when he helped his country to the final – a final they lost to Greece.
The veteran forward etched his name in the history books by breaking Kuwait’s Bader Al-Mutawa’s international appearance record in their encounter with Liechtenstein – his 196th cap for this country.
In fine sentimental fashion, Ronaldo broke the record to become the most-capped male international in the stadium where his talent was first unveiled to the world – in Lisbon.
Expectedly, he’s his nation’s top appearance holder and goal scorer, with 198 and 122, respectively. There’s no doubt he has been an integral part of Portugal’s set-up for over two decades, but his days seem numbered despite his eagerness to continue donning Portugal red.
Portugal are in Group J and have won both of their opening Euro 2024 qualifying matches – wins which see them top their group on six points.
They welcomed Liechtenstein to the Estadio Jose Alvalade and dismantled them 4-0, and then three days later they registered another six goals against Luxembourg, in a game where they kept their defensive record squeaky clean.
Ronaldo continued his unbelievable goal scoring prowess as he collected four goals across the two outings to add to his international CV.
|
Group J |
Played |
Won |
Drawn |
Lost |
Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Portugal |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
|
Slovakia |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
|
Bosnia and Herzegovina |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
|
Iceland |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
|
Luxembourg |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Liechtenstein |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
As things stand, 16/04/2023
