Cristiano Ronaldo is the record holder for goals in men’s international football with 128 goals, a number that few can beat.
But time waits for no one, and Ronaldo will be 39 years old by the time the 2024 European Cup arrives.
The former Manchester United and Real Madrid superstar won his first and only major international trophy as the Selecao struggled for glory at Euro 2016. After being forced off in the first half due to injury, Ronaldo could be seen directing and encouraging his teammates on the pitch. Playing alongside head coach Fernando Santos on the touchline. In the end, Portugal defeated the host France 1-0.
Next year’s game in Germany may be Ronaldo’s last game for the national team. His storied international career is unlikely to last as long as the 2026 World Cup, not least because a team loaded with talented attackers may turn to younger replacements who will be 41 by the time the World Cup in North America takes place. player of.
So, how is Portugal doing now? Will their veteran forwards be available for Euro 2024?
MORE: How many goals has Cristiano Ronaldo scored for Portugal?
Will Cristiano Ronaldo play for Portugal at Euro 2024?
When Ronaldo lost his starting spot in Portugal’s last-16 tie against Switzerland at the 2022 World Cup and his replacement Goncalo Ramos scored a hat-trick in the 6-1 win, it felt like a change of guard.
This might be the case if Portugal does not face Morocco in the next round. Still, the end of an era is still a possibility with Roberto Martinez replacing Ronaldo’s long-time ally Fernando Santos as head coach.
As it happens, Martinez immediately found a place for Ronaldo in his dynamic, expansive Portugal squad. The Al Nasr star has scored 10 goals in nine games during the Euro 2024 qualifiers. It means he has scored more goals in qualifying than Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland, with only Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku (14) scoring more. many.
more: Cristiano Ronaldo for Portugal: appearances, goals, records
Can Portugal win Euro 2024?
The form will certainly show that, yes, they can. Yes, Martinez is well on his way to his new job, with the Selecao earning favorable draws against Slovakia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Luxembourg, but they continue to crash out of the tournament.
10 games, 10 wins and 36 goals, that’s a pretty strong statement. It’s not just Ronaldo’s performance.
From the diligence and creativity of Bernardo Silva and Bruno Fernandez in the midfield to the attacking talents of Rafael Leao and Joao Felix, this is an extremely talented generation in Portugal.
One of the criticisms leveled at Santos in recent years has been his inability to capitalize on such a legacy after leading a limited and pragmatic squad to glory at Euro 2016. Martinez’s tendency to oversee wider attacking football has produced impressive early results and put Portugal among the contenders for German glory next year.
Can Cristiano Ronaldo win the Ballon d’Or again?
Ronaldo’s arch-rival Lionel Messi won his eighth Ballon d’Or this year after Argentina’s historic victory in Qatar.
They have already locked up five trophies as they compete on either side of El Clasico.
With them playing at Al Nasr and Inter Miami respectively, it’s fair to assume that the most likely route to another Ballon d’Or is through international achievement. It’s rare indeed for a player from a non-European team to come close to winning the modern award.
In fact, Messi’s seventh trophy was mainly due to the fact that he ended a long wait for his first international trophy at the 2021 Copa America. Although the South American Championship will return in 2024, the European Cup will be the main event in town.
If Argentina can win the World Cup in the United States, Messi may be in contention again, but if Ronaldo performs well in Portugal, CR7 is likely to lead the race for a sixth Ballon d’Or.