Cristiano Ronaldo now stands alone as the all-time record goalscorer at European Championships, after also becoming the first player to feature at five finals tournaments in Portugal’s 3-0 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 added several records to his impressive individual collection of honours on Tuesday, becoming the top scorer in Euros history when he netted his 10th goal in the competition with a late penalty, which was followed by his 11th in stoppage time.
In addition to the aforementioned records, Ronaldo also set a pair of other marks with his double in Budapest.
At 36 years, 130 days, Ronaldo became oldest player to score for Portugal at a major tournament, breaking the record set by Pepe at World Cup 2018 (35 years, 124 days).
The Juve star also become the oldest player to score at least two goals in a European Championship match, breaking the record set by Andriy Schevchenko when he was 35 years, 256 days.
Portugal’s late blitz, which also included an 84th-minute opener from Raphael Guerreiro, meant they are now the first side to score three or more goals in the last 10 minutes of a Euros match.
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 but 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. Ronaldo infamously did not take a spot-kick as he was the fifth taker, with the Spanish winning 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 the 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.
Ronaldo will have to be at his inspirational best to help the reigning champions through a tough group, which also includes Germany and France.
He now has 106 goals in 176 games for Portugal – only three short of the all-time FIFA international record, held by Iran’s Ali Daei.
