Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal are hoping to win their second European Championship title, as one of football’s greatest players prepares to compete in his 11th major international tournament.
Portugal lifted their first major international trophy when they beat France in the Euro 2016 final, thanks to an extra-time strike from Eder. They followed up by winning the inaugural Nations League in 2019.
Five years on, they are now one of the teams tipped to make an impact at Euro 2024 in Germany, and their talismanic No. 7 is likely to carry their hopes.
The Sporting News spoke exclusively to former France and Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit, who believes that even at 39 years old, Ronaldo could still be the man to make the biggest impact this summer.
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Petit knows a thing or two about getting the job done at the highest level.
He marshaled the midfield at club level for Arsenal, and was part of the Gunners Premier League and FA Cup Double-winning team in 1998.
But it is for France that he enjoyed arguably his greatest achievements, winning the World Cup in 1998 on home soil and then the European Championship in 2000, as part of a golden era for French football.
When asked about what it takes to win an international tournament, Petit repeatedly referred to “small details” and “controlling emotions”, but was also keen to highlight the way a team collectively works as a unit. And that’s what he believes could see Portugal be strong contenders this summer, especially with Ronaldo still banging in goals.
“I think he (Ronaldo) scored two goals with Portugal in the friendly before the Euros [against Ireland]. I think the guy has been born to score goals and to kill defences. I’m not surprised by that, because when you look at the team, he has so many talented players around him.
“With the technical skills, they give him the best balls to put him in the driving seat all the time.
“This guy is so focused on scoring goals and when you look at Bernardo Silva and Bruno Fernandes, he has so many players capable of giving him the best ball to score goals.
“When you look at the lines: defence, midfield and attack… be careful of Portugal!”
When you look at the statistics, it’s not hard to see why Petit thinks Ronaldo could be the one to watch at Euro 2024:
Ronaldo games, goals and records at the European Championships
Most Finals Goals
Ronaldo made his mark on the Euro stage during his debut in 2004, scoring against Greece. By the end of Euro 2016 he had equalled Michel Platini’s record of nine goals in a single tournament. With an additional five goals at Euro 2020, Ronaldo now stands alone as the all-time top scorer in Euros history.
Most Euro Final Tournaments
Euro 2024 should see Ronaldo participate in a sixth European Championship, a feat unmatched by any other player, here is his record ahead of the start of this year’s tournament:
| Year | Host Nation | Games Played | Goals Scored | Stage Reached | Eliminated by |
| 2004 | Portugal | 6 | 2 | Runners Up | Greece |
| 2008 | Austria/Switzerland | 3 | 1 | Quarterfinal | Germany |
| 2012 | Poland/Ukraine | 5 | 3 | Semifinals | Spain |
| 2016 | France | 7 | 3 | Champions | — |
| 2020 | Various | 4 | 5 | Round of 16 | Belgium |
| TOTAL | 25 | 14 |
Most Finals Appearances
Ronaldo’s commitment to the Portuguese national team is impressive, with a record of 25 finals appearances heading into Euro 2024, surpassing teammates Joao Moutinho and Pepe.
Most Euro Final Tournaments Scored In
Ronaldo stands as the only player to have scored in multiple Euro tournaments three times or more. His goal scoring prowess was seen in Euro 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2020, showcasing his ability to shine on the biggest stage consistently.
Emmanuel Petit was speaking on behalf of BetMGM. Play the new £2million Golden Goals game by predicting Euro 2024 scores at betmgm.co.uk. BeGambleAware 18
