The list of 23 Portuguese players who will compete in Euro 2024 was revealed today, and it includes the striker Cristiano Ronaldo, who is 39 years old. If he continues to play, he will shatter a number of records while competing.
The group that will represent Portugal in the Euro 2024 tournament was named by coach Roberto Martinez today, May 21. The roster consists of nine stars who are presently playing in the Premier League. These players include Bruno Fernandes, Diogo Dalot of Manchester United, and Bernardo Silva, ruben Dias, and Bruno Fernandes of champion Manchester City. Midfielder Pepe, who is 41 years old and plays for Porto, is the oldest player to be called up. Ronaldo, who is 39 years old, has played in 206 matches, making him the longest-serving member of the club.
As of right now, Ronaldo holds the record for having participated in five different European Championship tournaments: in 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2020. If the Portuguese striker is in good health and participates in the Euro 2024 tournament, he will be the one to accomplish this milestone on his own. Although Iker Casillas, a former goalie for Spain, participated in five Euros, he did not play in either the year 2000 or the year 2016 and only appeared in the years 2004, 2006, and 2016.
Ronaldo lifted the Euro 2016 championship trophy with Spain. Photo: AFP
All records at the tournament have been broken by Ronaldo, who has scored 14 goals in 25 matches at the European Championship, culminating in the championship in 2016. To be more specific, he scored two goals at the European Championship in 2003, one goal in 2008, three goals in 2012, and three goals in 2012. for the year 2016, and five goals for the year 2020. At the same time, Ronaldo is the only player to have scored 41 goals in Euro qualifiers, bringing his total number of goals scored in Euro qualifiers and finals to 55. Additionally, the striker, who is 39 years old, owns the record for playing 2,153 minutes, winning 12 matches, and appearing in 16 matches serving as captain at the European Championship.
At the European Championship in 2024, Ronaldo has the potential to achieve a number of significant milestones, one of which is to become the oldest player to score at the tournament, beating Ivica Vastic’s record of 38 years and 257 days. In addition, if Portugal and Portugal make it to the final match in Germany this summer, he has the potential to become the oldest player to score in the Euro final, surpassing Leonardo Bonucci, who is 34 years and 71 days younger than him.
Lothar Matthaus, who is 39 years and 91 days old, holds the record for being the oldest forward player to ever compete in the European Championship. This does not include goalkeepers on the list. Hans Lehmann, who is 38 years and 232 days old, has the record for being the oldest player to compete in the Euro final. Arnold Muhren, who is 37 years and 23 days old, holds the record for being the oldest player to win the Euro. Additional records that Ronaldo can strive to achieve are listed here.
Coach Roberto Martinez (right red shirt) gives information to Ronaldo (far left) and the Portuguese players before the Euro 2024 qualifying Group A match against Slovakia. Photo: AP
Ronaldo currently plays for Al Nassr with the highest salary in the world – more than 200 million USD, has 14 assists and 53 goals through 53 matches from the beginning of the 2023-2024 season for the club and team. In particular, the Portuguese striker leads the top scorer race with 33 goals in the Saudi Pro League, seven goals more than Aleksandar Mitrovic. It is almost certain that Ronaldo will become the first player to win top scorer in four countries, including Saudi Arabia, England, Italy and Spain.
Portugal will play friendlies with Finland on June 4, Croatia on June 8, Ireland on June 11 before attending Euro 2024 , where they are in Group F with the Czech Republic, Turkey and Georgia.
List of 26 Portuguese players participating in Euro 2024
Other: Diogo Costa (FC Porto), Rui Patricio (AS Roma), Jose Sa (Wolves)
Here are: Joao Cancelo (Barca), Diogo Dalot (Man Utd), Pepe (Porto), Ruben Dias (Man City), Antonio Silva (Benfica), Gonçalo Inacio (Sporting), Nuno Mendes, Danilo Pereira (PSG), Nélson Semedo (Wolves)
See: Bernardo Silva (Man City), Bruno Fernandes (Man Utd), João Palhinha (Fulham), Joao Neves (Benfica), Vitinha (PSG), Otavio (Al Nassr), Ruben Neves (Al Hilal)
Rafael Leao (AC Milan), Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr), Francisco Conceicao (Porto), Joao Felix (Barca), Goncalo Ramos (PSG), Diogo Jota (Liverpool), Pedro Neto (Wolves )