Cristiano Ronaldo is poised to establish a new European record following his inclusion in Portugal’s 26-player squad for the 2024 tournament, which was revealed on Tuesday by coach Roberto Martinez.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner, 39, will be competing in his eleventh major international competition.
He will be competing in his sixth men’s continental championship, breaking the record. He played in his first tournament at Euro 2004. Despite retiring injured after 25 minutes in the championship match, he was awarded a winner’s medal in France in 2016.
The men’s world records for caps (206) and goals for his country (128) are already held by Ronaldo, who plays club football for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia.
With 36 goals and two conceded in Portugal’s ten victories in the qualifying round, he once again proved to be invaluable.
In his nine qualifying appearances, Ronaldo scored ten goals.
Martinez praised the striker, saying he felt the player still had “a quality in front of goal that we really appreciate and need.” The striker has scored 42 goals in 41 games for his club.
Despite his advanced age, Ronaldo will not be the team’s most experienced player.
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Martinez stated that Pepe, 41, a current Porto player and former Real Madrid teammate, has also been called up due to his “important role in the dressing room.”
The Selecao will play warm-up matches against Finland, Croatia, and Ireland from June 14 to July 14, Germany, before taking on the Czech Republic, Turkey, and then Georgia in Group F of the Euro.
Martinez has chosen Pedro Neto, Francisco Conceicao, Rafael Leao, Joao Felix, and Goncalo Ramos as strikers to go with Ronaldo in the attacking lineup.
Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes and Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva, who recently won an English championship, are examples of the creative midfielders.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa (Porto), Rui Patricio Roma/ITA), Jose Sa (Wolves/ENG)
Defenders: Ruben Dias (Manchester City/ENG), Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA), Joao Cancelo (Barcelona/ESP), Nelson Semedo (Wolves/ENG), Diogo Dalot (Manchester United/ENG), Antonio Silva (Benfica), Goncalo Inacio (Sporting), Pepe (Porto), and Danilo Pereira (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA).
Midfielders: Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA), Otavio Monteiro (Al Nassr/KSA), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United/ENG), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City/ENG), Joao Palhinha (Fulham/ENG), Ruben Neves (Al-Hilal/KSA), Joao Neves (Benfica),
Forwards: Goncalo Ramos (Paris SG/FRA), Diogo Jota (Liverpool/ENG), Pedro Neto (Wolves/ENG), Francisco Conceicao (Porto), Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr/KSA), Rafael Leao (AC Milan/ITA), Joao Felix (FC Barcelona/ESP),
AFP
