Cristiano Ronaldo now stands alone as the all-time record goalscorer at European Championships, after also becoming the first player to feature in games at five finals tournaments in Portugal’s win over Hungary in Budapest on Tuesday.
The Juventus forward has represented his country at every Euros since Portugal hosted the tournament in 2004, and he remains the talisman of the reigning champions 17 years later.
Ronaldo then added another record to his impressive individual collection of honours, becoming the top scorer in Euros history when he netted his 10th goal in the competition with a late penalty, followed by the 11th in stoppage time during the 3-0 victory.
Ronaldo at the Euros
The former Manchester United and Real Madrid forward’s long association with the European Championship began on home soil in 2004, but hopes of a dream trophy were dashed in the final as Portugal were stunned by Greece, leaving a teenage Ronaldo in tears.
He hoped to make amends four years later in Austria and Switzerland, however, Portugal, after topping their group, were beaten by Germany in the quarter-finals.
In 2012, Ronaldo inspired Portugal to the semi-finals, where they took reigning world and continental champions Spain to penalties, only to lose in the shoot-out – with Ronaldo infamously not taking a spot-kick as he was the fifth taker, only for the Spanish to win 4-2 before he had his chance.
Amends were made at France 2016, where Portugal – after a slow start where they drew all three group games – went all the way to final and beat the hosts in Paris. Ronaldo was forced out of the game with injury, but passionately drove his team on from the touchline as Eder scored an extra-time winner.
What does Euro 2020 hold for Ronaldo?
He will have to be at his inspirational best to help the reigning champions through a tough group, after beating Hungary thanks to a deflected Raphael Guerreiro strike and his penalty after Rafa Silva was fouled, both goals coming in the final 10 minutes of the match.
Gloss was put on the scoreline in injury time, as Ronaldo rounded Hungarian goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi to finish off a fine team move.
Portugal now face Germany and France in Group F, as they aim to retain their continental title.
Ronaldo, a man with five Ballons d’Or to his name, also made some more individual history as he netted his 10th and 11th Euros goals, surpassing France hero Michel Platini, who scored nine, as the man the most in tournament history.
He also has 106 goals in 176 games for Portugal – now only three short of the all-time FIFA international record, held by Iran’s Ali Daei.
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