The veteran striker will lead Portugal’s bid for a second European title after being included in the 26-man squad.
Cristiano Ronaldo is likely to set a European record after being named in Portugal’s 26-man squad for 2024, revealed by coach Roberto Martinez.
Tuesday’s team announcement all but confirmed that the 39-year-old, five-time Ballon d’Or winner, will take part in his 11th major international tournament when Euro 2024 begins on June 14 in Germany.
He played his first game at Euro 2004 and will make a record sixth appearance in the men’s continental championship. He won a winner’s medal in France in 2016 despite being injured 25 minutes into the final.
Ronaldo, who plays for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, already holds the men’s world record for caps (206) and international goals (128).
He proved to be indispensable again, as Portugal won all 10 games in the qualifying phase, scoring 36 goals and conceding two.
Ronaldo scored 10 goals in nine qualifying games.
Praising “a player who has scored 42 goals in 41 appearances for his club”, Martinez said he feels the forward continues to offer “a quality in front of goal that we really appreciate and need”.
Despite his advanced age, Ronaldo will not be the most experienced player on the squad.
His former Real Madrid teammate Pepe, 41, now playing for Porto, was also called up because of his “important role in the dressing room”, Martinez said.
Before facing the Czech Republic, Turkey and then Georgia in Group F of the European Championship, from June 14th to July 14th, in Germany, the team will play friendlies against Finland, Croatia and Ireland.
Alongside Ronaldo in attack, Martinez called up strikers Rafael Leão, João Félix and Gonçalo Ramos, as well as Pedro Neto and Francisco Conceição.
Creative midfielders include Bernardo Silva, who has just won the English title with Manchester City, and Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa (Porto), Rui Patricio Roma/ITA), José Sá (Wolves/ENG)
Defenders: João Cancelo (Barcelona/ESP), Nelson Semedo (Wolves/ENG), Diogo Dalot (Manchester United/ENG), Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA), Ruben Dias (Manchester City/ENG), Antonio Silva (Benfica) , Gonçalo Inácio (Sporting), Pepe (Porto), Danilo Pereira (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA)
Midfielders: João Palhinha (Fulham/ENG), Ruben Neves (Al-Hilal/KSA), João Neves (Benfica), Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA), Otávio Monteiro (Al Nassr/KSA), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United/ENG ) ), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City/ENG)
Advanced: Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr/KSA), Rafael Leão (AC Milan/ITA), João Félix (FC Barcelona/ESP), Gonçalo Ramos (Paris SG/FRA), Diogo Jota (Liverpool/ENG), Pedro Neto (Wolves/ENG ) ), Francisco Conceição (Porto)
This story originally appeared on Aljazeera.com read the full story
