Superstar Portugal striker Cristiano Ronaldo is determined to make more European Championship history this summer.
The veteran forward, 39, says his team “deserve” to win another major international trophy to add to their singular triumph, at Euro 2016.
Portugal kick off their tournament against Czech Republic in Leipzig today with Ronaldo set to start and appear at a record-extending sixth Euros.
Roberto Martinez’s side qualified with a 100 percent record and should progress with ease from Group F, which also contains Turkey and Georgia.
“I believe this generation deserves to win a competition of this magnitude,” Ronaldo told reporters upon arrival in Germany, setting his sights on the Henri Delaunay trophy.
The former Real Madrid hitman triumphed with Portugal in 2016 but limped off injured against France in the final, with Eder firing the team to glory in extra-time.
Now plying his trade for immense wealth in Saudi Arabia with Al Nassr, Ronaldo netted twice against the Republic of Ireland in a tune-up friendly last week to extend his international goals record to 130.
Thus far 14 of those have come at European Championships, making him the competition’s all-time top scorer ahead of France great Michel Platini on nine.
Ronaldo first appeared at the tournament in 2004 on home soil, scoring against eventual winners Greece on his Euros debut, and he has also struck in every edition since. The forward has 25 appearances at the finals, missing only one game at the tournament on the five occasions he has been selected as part of Portugal’s squad.
If Ronaldo nets in Germany he will become the oldest ever Euros goalscorer, with the current record set by Austria’s Ivica Vastic in 2008, scoring at 38 years and 257 days old. “I enjoy football, records are a consequence, so for me it’s not a target, because I think they come naturally,” said Ronaldo.
“I’m happy to have a sixth European Championship and it’s about enjoying it in the best way, playing well, making sure the team can win, trying to give my all and enjoying it.”
Many believed Ronaldo’s time was finally up on the international stage when he was dropped for the last two matches of Portugal’s 2022 World Cup campaign after failing to score from open play in the three group games.
However, Martinez has stuck by the five-time Ballon d’Or winner. Ronaldo started every qualifier he was available for, scoring eight goals in the process. Despite his long and storied international career, Ronaldo said he still suffers with nerves after a men’s record 207 caps for his country.
“There’s always that tingling in the stomach, especially the day before the game, but that’s normal, that’s part of it and I’m glad I feel it, because when I don’t feel it, it’s better to give up and stop,” said the forward. “I still feel quite motivated, it’s a different competition and we’re all prepared.”
Ronaldo’s ambition is fuel for his team-mates to thrive on.
“Knowing Cristiano, he’ll always think big, and we’ll keep up with him,” Manchester United defender Diogo Dalot told a news conference Saturday. “He’s the one who’s won the most among us...if we all realise that we have to go step by step, we can go far and I’m confident of that.”
While Portugal are among the favourites to lift the trophy, the Czech Republic have not gone beyond the quarter-finals for 20 years. Like their opponents the Czechs have lifted the trophy on one occasion - in 1976 as Czechoslovakia. A three-man defence with two wing-backs led by Slavia Prague’s Tomas Holes must find a way to stop Ronaldo if they are to start strongly.
However few sides have managed that since Portugal’s talisman took the stage two decades ago. One of the few challenges left for Ronaldo at the tournament is to score a hat-trick, last achieved by Spain’s David Villa in 2008.
Ronaldo shows us ‘anything is possible’: Dias
Portugal defender Ruben Dias said Cristiano Ronaldo’s presence shows their squad they can achieve anything as they prepare to make their Euro 2024 bow against the Czech Republic today.
Portugal won Euro 2016 and are spearheaded by 39-year-old superstar striker Cristiano Ronaldo, preparing to play at a record-extending sixth Euros.
Ronaldo, the record men’s international goalscorer with 130 strikes for his country, is also the all-time top scorer at the tournament with 14, a distance ahead of former France great Michel Platini in second spot on nine goals.
“I would say he represents inspiration, he represents that anything is possible, he represents all that you can dream, and achieve it,” Manchester City centre-back Dias told a news conference on Monday.
“Mainly I would like to say it’s a pleasure to have him with us. More than all these little things or big things, him being with us in this moment of his career represents that he wants to win again.
“He’s our captain and obviously we follow him to the end.”
If Ronaldo scores at the Euros this summer he will become the competition’s oldest goalscorer of all-time, breaking a record set by Austria’s Ivica Vastic at 38 in Euro 2008.
Portugal coach Roberto Martinez said Ronaldo’s experience could be vital at the tournament, along with veteran centre-back Pepe, 41.
“(Ronaldo) is very important...at tournaments, Euros and World Cups, the key is a mix of experience and new talent,” said Martinez.
“Our team does it perfectly - you mentioned Cristiano, and him and Pepe bring experience nobody else has, they are the two oldest players at the tournament.
“Then we have (the young players too)...we need all of this, they all need to be linked together, committed, that is crucial for us.”
Czech Republic and West Ham United midfielder Tomas Soucek said his team could not afford to let their guard down against the Al Nassr striker.
“We all know Ronaldo’s quality especially if you give him space,” Soucek told a news conference.
“We can’t give him an inch, especially in the area - (there) we need to double our defence on him.
“Our goal is to stop him but obviously we need to stop the rest of the Portuguese team too.”
If Ronaldo fires then Portugal may be able to live up to their billing as one of the favourites to win the tournament.
Martinez said he was aiming for that when asked if he had packed enough clothes in his suitcase to go the full distance.
“We must believe, we need to dream big - if we don’t dream big then it will be tough,” he said.
“Tomorrow will be the right time to show we are ready, that we can meet all the expectations, but after the first three matches we can gauge whether or not we deserve to stay or not.
“I brought seven shirts, not three.”