Veteran star Cristiano Ronaldo will lead Portugal’s national team roster for the finals.
Veteran star Cristiano Ronaldo is leading Portugal’s national team at next month’s Euro 2024, with the 39-year-old playing in his 11th major tournament for his country after being called up by Spain coach Roberto Martinez. 26 players on Tuesday.
Eight years after winning his first major championship at home in the European Cup in 2004 and the continental championship in 2016, he is currently a five-time player of the year who is a professional at Al-Nasr Saudi Arabia. He holds the world record for number of international caps (2016) and international goals (128) as he prepares to play his sixth continental championship.
Proud to represent Portugal again at the Euros. Let’s go with everything! #Sharing passion pic.twitter.com/48D7P6mYac
– Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) May 21, 2024
Martinez, who coached the Belgian national team between 2016 and 2022, has had no surprises in his list – winger Rafael Guerrero is out through injury and the coach includes young winger Francisco Conceicao (21), who has been playing under Porto’s watch. His father’s former international star Sergio.
After moving to Al Nasser after the 2022 World Cup, after losing to Morocco (0-1) in the quarter-finals, Ronaldo became an important part of Martinez’s team, replacing Fernando Santos and leading “Seleção das Quinas” to the finals, winning all 10 matches in the qualifiers and scoring 36 to 2 own goals. He became a member of the permanent team after defeating Slovakia.
Ronaldo (former Spanish Real Madrid star) was the top scorer for his country with 10 goals in 9 matches.
Martinez, who “scored 42 goals in 41 matches with the team” – who finished top of Al Hilal in the domestic league – still offers “the quality we appreciate and want in front of goal,” he reckons.
Portugal will play preliminary matches against Finland, Croatia and Ireland before the Czech Republic, Turkey and Georgia meet in Germany on June 14 and July 14 in the sixth edition of the continental finals.
In addition to Ronaldo, Martinez selected two other players from the Saudi league: midfielders Ruben Neves (Al-Hilal) and Otavio Montero (Al-Nasr).
And he called up the stars: Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes, Rafael Leo, Joao Felix and Bernardo Silva.
It was noteworthy that the 41-year-old centre-back, Pepe, was constantly called upon to find “an important role in the locker room”, as Martinez explained.
The goal was saved by Diogo Cocheta, assisted by substitutes Rui Patricio and Jose Sa.
💢💦 𝗘𝗦𝗖𝗢𝗟𝗛𝗜𝗗 #Euro2024. 🇵🇹🫡 #Sharing passion pic.twitter.com/wpi9VMZfj2
– Portugal (@selecaoportugal) May 21, 2024
Portugal’s Euro 2024 squad list is as follows.
Goalkeepers: Diogo Cochetta (Porto), Jose Sa (Wolverhampton, England), Rui Patricio (Roma, Italy).
Defence: Antonio Silva (Benfica), Danilo Pereira, Nuno Mendes (Saint-Germain, France), Diogo Dalo (Manchester United, England), Goncalo Inacio (Sporting), Joao Cancelo (Barcelona, Spain), Nelson Semedo (Wolverhampton). England), Pepe (Porto), Ruben Diaz (Manchester City, England).
Midfield: Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Joao Neves (Benfica), Joao Ballena (Fulham, England), Otavio Montero (Al-Nasser), Ruben Neves (Al-Hilal), Vitinha (Saint-Germain).
Forwards: Bernardo Silva (Manchester City), Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nasser), Diogo Jota (Liverpool, England), Francisco Concessão (Porto), Gonchalo Ramos (Saint-Germain), Joao Felix (Barcelona), Pedro Neto (Wolverhampton). Raphael Leo (Milan, Italy).
