After scoring the brace on Tuesday, June 15, in Portugal’s 3-0 victory against Hungary, Cristiano Ronaldo became the all-time top goalscorer in the history of the UEFA European Championship.The 36-year-old forward was equal with Michel Platini with a total of nine goals ahead of Euro 2020, but he surpassed the France legend with a penalty in the 87th minute.
He subsequently scored another onein stoppage time, which was his 106th international goal. The Portuguese superstar, who had been relatively silent for much of the game, also became the first player to appear in five European Championship finals, having made his debutin 2004.
Hisperformances for thePortugal national team sawhim earn various accoladeswhile his methodical dedication to his body enabled him to remainaworld-class figure despite his age.Among his many accomplishments, he is the second male sports athlete to score 100 international goals and the first European player to do so.
How many titles does Cristiano Ronaldo have with Portugal?
Although Ronaldo was forced to leave the final due to injury, thePortugal captain achieved numerous additional milestones to his already successful career during his time at the Euro 2016 in France. In his fourth UEFA European Championship, the then-31-year-old was finally able to lift the trophyas his side defeated the hosts 1-0 in extra time at the Stade de France.
It was another unforgettable moment for the then-Real Madrid ace, who has made an indelible mark in the competition since his debut as a 19-year-old in Euro 2004. At the time, Cristiano also became Portugal’s youngest player in amajor tournament final, appearing in the2-1 loss to Greece at the age of 19 years and 128 days.
The now 36-year-old veteran can also boastof winning the 2018-19 UEFA Nations League, adding that trophy in their cabinet alongside the Euro 2016 one.The competition between Cristiano’s Portugaland Virgil Van Dijk’s Netherlands wasn’t quite up to its hype, but it was the Selecao’s star who led his country to atournament triumph.