Portugal won a confident victory over Turkey in the second round of Euro 2024, defeating their opponents 3-0. One of the main heroes of the match was Cristiano Ronaldo. He not only helped the team achieve success, but also wrote his name in the history of European Championships.
Euro Symbol: Cristiano Ronaldo
CriRo's brilliant performance at Euro 2024 proved once again that the European Championship is his tournament. The Portuguese is one of the most recognisable footballers on the planet. During his career, he has played over 1,200 matches for the national team and club. At Euro 2024, Cristiano continued the tradition, becoming the team's leader in the number of goal assists and resultant actions. His ability to create good chances to hit the opponent's goal made him an indispensable player for the Portuguese national team.
Over the course of his career, Ronaldo has repeatedly proved that he is not only a talented striker, but also a superb assistant. His pass to Bruno Fernandes in the match against Turkey became a symbol of skill and leadership on the pitch. His precise assist allowed him to surpass Karel Poborski in the number of assists in the history of the Euros and to become the oldest author of a goal in the tournament.
The Decisive Goal and the Historic Assist
Portugal's third goal, which finally finished off Turkey, was scored by Bruno Fernandes in the 56th minute after a pass from Ronaldo. This assist allowed the Portuguese to set several records at once. Firstly, he became the oldest assister in Euro history (39 years and 139 days). Secondly, he surpassed Karel Poborsky of the Czech Republic in terms of the number of goal assists in the history of the tournament.
Leaders in the number of goalscoring assists at the European Championships (Opta):
- Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal): 7 assists
- Karel Poborsky (Czechia): 6 assists
- David Beckham (England): 5 assists
- Arjen Robben (Netherlands): 5 assists
- Luís Figo (Portugal): 5 assists
- Cesc Fàbregas (Spain): 5 assists
- Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany): 5 assists
- Eden Hazard (Belgium): 5 assists
Legendary Achievements
Ronaldo also holds the overall record for the most number of European Championships appearances - 27 after the Turkey match. His words "I don't follow records, records follow me" were once again confirmed. Nevertheless, Ronaldo was probably aware of the importance of the assist record when he passed to Bruno Fernandes, when he could have scored himself, as he already holds the record for goals (14).
A Regular at Major Tournaments
For Ronaldo, this is his 11th consecutive major national team tournament with at least one goal or assist. Since making his debut at Euro 2004, he has been a significant contributor to his team's success:
- European Champion 2016. Under his captaincy, Portugal won the European Championship.
- UEFA Nations League 2019. Ronaldo helped Portugal win their first ever Nations League trophy.
- Five Ballon d'Ors. The awards underline the Portuguese's status as one of the best players in football history.
But Cristiano is not just about records and achievements. His charisma, dedication and fan-friendly attitude have made him a favourite of millions. Even at the moment of setting another record, he remains humble and concentrates on the success of the team. In every tournament, CriRo gives his best to lead his national team forward.
Records and colourful goal assists are only part of Ronaldo's legacy. Over the years, he has proven that he is a true master of his craft. Cristiano Ronaldo has become a living legend, a symbol of the European Championship and a role model.
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