Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo has been considered one of the greatest players to ever appear at the European Championships after setting many records in the tournament and winning the title in 2016.
Records await Ronaldo
But with another EURO approaching, Ronaldo can further cement his legacy at the tournament with more records awaiting the Al Nassr star.
Most attendances and goals scored
Ronaldo currently holds the record for the number of tournament appearances after appearing in 5 EURO tournaments in 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2020. Ronaldo will break this milestone himself if he is in good shape and competes. at EURO 2024. Former Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas also appeared in 5 EURO tournaments, but only started in 2004, 2008, 2012.
After scoring in all five of his EURO appearances so far, Ronaldo can break his record with a goal at EURO 2024. If he does this, he will score at six consecutive EURO finals. , more than any other player.
Most goals
Ronaldo’s persistence at the top also helped him set a record for the number of goals in European Championship history with 14 goals in 5 EURO appearances. In particular, he scored 2 goals at EURO 2004, 1 goal in 2008, 3 goals in 2012, 3 goals in 2016 and 5 goals in 2020.
With another goal in Germany, Ronaldo will surpass his previously set record, to continue to consolidate his position as the greatest goalscorer in EURO history.
With great form at Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League with 35 goals in 31 matches, it is difficult for Ronaldo not to score in Germany this summer.
Oldest player to ever score
The record for oldest player to score at EURO currently belongs to Austria’s Ivica Vastic, who scored with an injury-time penalty against Poland at EURO 2008 at the age of 38 years, 257 days. That was also Austria’s first goal in a EURO.
Ronaldo has a chance to surpass Vlastic at EURO 2024 because he will be 39 years and 130 days old when the tournament opens and will become the player to hold this record with any goal scored for Portugal.
Ronaldo will break many more records if he plays and shines at EURO 2024
Oldest player, excluding goalkeeper
Before he has a chance to break the record for the oldest player to score in EURO history, Ronaldo will need to play for Portugal in Germany, and in doing so, he will break another European record.
An appearance at EURO 2024 would make Ronaldo the oldest player to ever compete at EURO (excluding goalkeepers) as he would surpass German legend Lothar Matthaus, who was 39 years and 91 days old when he appeared on the field. last time for Germany against Portugal in 2000.
Most appearances in the typical team
Ronaldo and his Portuguese teammate Pepe will compete with each other to set the record of being the first player to appear in the representative team of four EURO tournaments.
Pepe was selected in the team of the tournament for three consecutive tournaments between 2008 and 2016, while Ronaldo won a place in the team of the tournament in 2004, 2012 and 2016. They now share this honor. with Paolo Maldini of Italy and Laurent Blanc of France.
Oldest hat-trick scorer
Ronaldo has never scored a hat-trick at EURO and if he does it in Germany this summer, he will go down in tournament history as the oldest player to ever score 3 goals in a EURO match.
The current record belongs to the legendary Michel Platini, who scored a hat-trick on his way to the championship in 1984 with the French team.
Attended the most finals
After experiencing both defeat and victory in EURO finals in 2004 and 2016, Ronaldo and Portugal will be hoping for another appearance in the final match of the tournament. Then, win or lose, Ronaldo will create history as the player who has participated in the most EURO finals. Ronaldo currently shares the record of two EURO finals with 23 other players.