On 18 June, 39-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo will lead Portugal out for their first match at the 2024 UEFA European Championship in Germany. The iconic striker has already won a EUROs tournament, so what is there left to prove for the former Real Madrid and Manchester United superstar, who made his debut in this competition two decades ago? Soccer Laduma international journalist Kamogelo Motecwane explores the potential driving forces behind Ronaldo's continuation with A Selecao, and looks at his chances of claiming a second continental triumph with his national team. He also spoke to former Kaizer Chiefs coach Muhsin Ertugral, whose Turkey will go up against Portugal in Group F.
Ageing like fine wine
The Madeira native enters the latest iteration of the EUROs under similar circumstances that he did for the tournament Portugal won in 2016. During the 2015/16 campaign, Ronaldo surpassed Raul Gonzalez to become Real Madrid's all-time top goalscorer, while also becoming the highest goalscorer in UEFA Champions League history. He achieved a similar accomplishment this past season by breaking the record for the most goals scored in a single Saudi Pro League campaign. While he scored 51 goals during the aforementioned campaign with Los Blancos, it is clear to see that his powers have not waned all that much given that he was able to find the back of the net 44 times in all competitions in his first full campaign with Al Nassr. While there may be some who question the quality of the oil-rich kingdom's top-flight in comparison to European club football, Ronaldo has been just as prolific during EURO qualification. The former Manchester United winger's tally of 10 goals was only bettered by Romelu Lukaku's 14 strikes as he beat out the likes of Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe.
Genesis of redemption
Portugal's EUROs qualification campaign can perhaps be viewed as the beginning of a redemption arc for the five-time Ballon d'Or winner after the last international tournament he participated in did not go according to plan. The 2022 FIFA World Cup was horrid compared to the rest of his career with club and country. He began the competition in typical fashion as his opener against Ghana gave his side the platform for a3-2win,butthatisasgoodasit got for the legendary attacker as not only would he fail to score again at the global showpiece, but he would be reduced to a substitute role by then-manager Fernando Santos by the time the knockout phase arrived. He started on the bench against Switzerland, and while a 6-1 win over their European counterparts was able to paper over the Portuguese cracks during the round of 16, that strategy did not bear any fruit in their quarter-final clash against Morocco as they lost 1-0 to the north Africans. His elimination from the showpiece was compounded by the fact that his long-time rival Lionel Messi would go on to win the entire tournament with Argentina. While it seemed as though Ronaldo's international career was over at that stage, Roberto Martinez succeeded Santos and since then, it seems the Spaniard has resuscitated the forward's time with his national team. Given his individual achievements at club level this past season, it is clear Ronaldo is still one of the best players in world football and has the appetite to achieve more. Having gone out of the World Cup the way he and Portugal did will have left a bitter taste in his mouth, but the EUROs will provide a fresh opportunity for him to further establish his legacy, and given the abundance of world- class talent at Martinez's disposal, there is every chance he can achieve another international triumph. Ronaldo has started every game he has been available for under the former Belgium boss, and that will likely be the case going into the tournament too.
Best Portugal team in Ronaldo era?
Having played for Portugal for just over two decades now, Ronaldo has witnessed his fair share of tournament squads. During his first EUROs in 2004, the then-teenager got to share the pitch with some of his nation's all-time greats, such as Luis Figo and Manuel Rui Costa. In 2016, he was able to win the competition and establish his own legend alongside the likes of Joao Moutinho and Pepe. But as good as all the aforementioned teams were, perhaps none of them were filled with as much quality as there is now in the Portuguese national team. In 2024, Ronaldo has teammates such as Rafael Leao, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Vitinha, Ruben Dias, Joao Cancelo and Diogo Jota. All of them, among others, are undisputed starters for their respective clubs and, for their nation, are regarded as the "Golden Generation". During the qualification stage, Portugal was the only side to have a 100% winning record as they moved from Santos' pragmatism to a more attacking approach under Martinez. In the recent past, this iteration of A Selecao used counter-attacks as the main weapon in their arsenal, but under Balaguer native Martinez, the team has adopted a more possession- based style. They have seemingly not completely abandoned their explosiveness up front, though, as they are able to create artificial transitions by lulling their opponents into a false sense of security when building up before looking for a long pass to break the line in behind. It will be in these transitions where Portugal is likely going to find their most success given the pace they have at their disposal. Being the skipper, and most prolific goalscorer, Ronaldo will likely be at the focal point of their attacks. Although the days when he would dribble past fullbacks with regularity are gone, Martinez does have a tendency of starting the 206-capped superstar out wide from time to time, but in these instances, he will likely occupy more central spaces, with Portugal's fullbacks being instructed to provide width because the former Juventus attacker is, without a doubt, at his most dangerous as close to goal as possible.
Ertugral's EUROs perspective
Portugal have perhaps been fortunate to be drawn in a favourable group as they are set to face Georgia, Czech Republic and Turkey in the group stage. A tactician South African football lovers will know very well is currently preparing to face Real Madrid's all-time top goalscorer, and that is Muhsin Ertugral. The former Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates boss is currently working for the Turkish Football Federation in a technical advisory role, and when asked about what it takes to prepare for a tournament of this magnitude, the Istanbul native said: "The most important thing is to know your team and to know the opponents. We currently have some tremendous talents in the Turkish national team and the biggest problem is to find the right concepts because time is not on our side. So, already, important players such as Enes Unal are injured, and this handicaps us to a certain degree. We need to get the team on the field and recovered completely, because most of them are playing 40, 50 games per season at the highest level with a high intensity. Then the most important thing afterwards is to find the right tactical concepts for the team. So, these are the elements we try figure out in the preparation matches because they'll give you the information you need, but not everything because, in the end, nobody wants to get injured." When pressed about how the Turkish plan on preventing Ronaldo from having an impact against them, the 64-year- old remained coy, stating: "That will be a decided by the technical staff. They, along with the analyst groups, will look at those situations. They will know, when the time comes, what to do and how to do certain things involving Ronaldo, but for me, Portugal is one of the biggest contenders to win the European Championship."
Last dance
All indications are that this will be Ronaldo's swansong in international football, and with the mercurial forward already regarded as the greatest footballer Portugal has ever seen, there is likely very little to prove for him as far as the EUROs are concerned. However, considering how his last World Cup campaign went, he will not be looking to bow out of the international stage only playing a bit part. Neither Eusebio, Paulo Futre, Figo nor Rui Costa were ever able to lift a trophy while playing for the footballing powerhouse, so not only would another major piece of silverware likely cement his place as the greatest Portuguese footballer ever, but he would also become the first non-Spaniard/German to win two European Championships. Heis39yearsoldsohewillnotbe able to single-handedly will his side to victory in Germany, but with the teammates he currently has, a championship charge is something that is well within their grasp. He was the Golden Boot winner at the last EUROs, but he will be looking to hold the famed trophy aloft once again come 14 July at the Olympiastadion Berlin.
