Ssuperstar Cristiano Ronaldo has rediscovered his joy in the jersey of the Portuguese national football team. “Two games, two wins! Goal achieved. I am pleased to have contributed to this very positive start of our selection. Let’s go!” wrote the goalscorer on Instagram after scoring his international goals number 121 and 122 in the 6-0 win in Luxembourg in the European Championship qualifier. Three days earlier, Ronaldo had scored twice in the 4-0 win over Liechtenstein.
After the disappointing World Cup in Qatar, the end of the Portuguese national team seemed to have come for the 38-year-old. Ronaldo was only a backup player under coach Fernando Santos, he was unable to prevent the quarter-final defeat against outsiders Morocco (0-1) after coming on as a substitute in the second half. After the World Cup, he switched to the possibly second-rate Saudi League.
“Very important for the cabin”
But under Portugal’s new coach Roberto Martinez, Ronaldo is set again. In both games against opponents who were hardly competitive, the star striker was in the starting XI – and was able to further expand his records.
122 goals in 198 international matches are unmatched. “Cristiano has an incredible international experience, probably unique. He’s very important for the dressing room,” said Martinez, who previously coached Belgium.
In 2024, Ronaldo in Germany can dream of his sixth participation in the European Championship, which no player has ever managed to do. With 25 European Championship games and 14 goals, he holds other records. Ronaldo had his greatest success with Portugal when they won the European Championship in 2016.
