Did Cristiano Ronaldo ever win the Euro Cup?

Cristiano Ronaldo has built an incredible football legacy as one of the greatest players of all time, both at club and international level.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner achieved all the trophies he has competed for during his iconic spells at Manchester United and Real Madrid, being the top men’s international goalscorer of all time in a career in Portugal that has spanned more than 20 years. years.

He has often been the great hope of the Portuguese team at the Euros and hopes to have a big influence on the performance of his national team, but how has Cristiano Ronaldo fared at the other Euros over the years?

Cristiano had played in three European championships (2004, 2008, 2012) before success with Portugal came in 2016, against all odds.

Fernando Santos’ team was hardly afraid of its rivals during the group stage in France, tying against Hungary, Iceland and Austria, managing to pass as the third best team in that third place.

From that moment on, in the knockout rounds, Portugal showed brave determination to prove all those who did not trust the Portuguese team wrong. They eliminated a Croatia full of quality midfielders such as Luka Modric, Iván Rakitic, Marcelo Brozovic and Ivan Perisic with a 1-0 result in the round of 16thanks to an outstanding Ricardo Quaresma in extra time.

They needed a penalty shootout victory to eliminate Poland in the quarter finals, after goals from Robert Lewandowski and Renato Sánches forced extra time, and two goals in just four minutes were enough to defeat an energetic Wales team in semi-finals.

Portugal was not a favorite to beat France in the final played at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, just as their hopes suffered a severe blow when Cristiano Ronaldo was stretchered off in the 25th minute due to an injury.

Santos’ team held off the French team long enough to score the winning goal in extra time when Eder beat Hugo Lloris with a low shot from distance in the 109th minute, hitting Cristiano Ronaldo, who had accompanied his coach on the bench dictating key orders to win his first international trophy with his country.

Cristiano scored his debut in the Euro 2004 against Greece in the first match of the tournament, although his team would ultimately fall in the final as tournament hosts. Since then, he has become the competition’s top scorer with 14 goals in five games, which is also the most of any male player in history.

He was just a teenager at Euro 2004 but ranked alongside legends such as Luis Figo and Deco, although the tournament four years later was more disappointing with a quarter-final exit to Germany.

In the Euro 2012, Cristiano Ronaldo doubled their goal total, but the campaign also ended in heartbreak, as they were eliminated by eventual winners Spain in a penalty shootout in the semi-finals. Cristiano didn’t even take a penalty.

The former Real Madrid striker scored three goals during the Euro 2016, included in the matchup corresponding to the quarterfinals against Wales. Afterwards in the Euro 2020 transcontinental proved to be their most efficient in front of goal despite an elimination in the round of 16. Cristiano scored five goals in the group stage and once again qualified for the round of 16 with a third place finish, losing to Belgium 1-0 in Seville.

He has 14 goals in total at the Euros and will be eager to add to that tally in Germany at Euro 2024.

Ronaldo continues to score goals for fun as he approaches 40, scoring for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia. He was named in Portugal’s Euro 2024 squad, which features some of Europe’s best players, including Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes and Ruben Dias.

It will be fascinating to see the important role it plays in Germany. The former Juventus, Real Madrid and Manchester United forward was sent to the bench during the 2022 World Cup and his team made the decision excessively harshly.

Fernando Santos left shortly after their quarter-final exit to Morocco and new coach Roberto Martínez has given Cristiano Ronaldo ample opportunities, being rewarded with ten goals in qualifying for Euro 2024.

There are enough signs that “El bicho” will be a crucial part of Martínez’s plans this summer, but the Spaniard also has Diogo Jota, Gonçalo Ramos and Joao Félix as alternatives up front if he, like Santos before him, decides take a different approach.

More news about Euro 2024