It doesn’t matter that Cristiano Ronaldo is very much an elder statesman of the game; he remains one of the most feared forwards on the planet. The Al-Nassr man will not only head to the Euros with Portugal this summer, he will lead them on the pitch. But the question is, can he roll back the years to enable them to achieve success in Germany?
Ronaldo, 39, in the eyes of some of his detractors, is a fading force. He’s not the player of old, but that’s obvious, not just because of his age but how long he’s been playing the game. However, even at thirty-nine, he’s in the running, according to Euro 2024 betting odds, to be crowned the tournament's top scorer, which is an indication that this so-called fading force has still got it and could upstage some of his rivals.
The term what have you done for me lately can be applied in football. Form is everything heading into international tournaments, and a quick check on Ronaldo’s shows he’s still at the very top of his game. In all competitions for current club Al-Nassr, the forward scored forty-four goals and made thirteen assists in just forty-five outings. Of course, he’s no longer operating in one of Europe’s top five leagues, but he’s still more than delivering what’s expected of him.
On the international stage, it’s hard to find anyone who can compare. In 206 caps, with Ronaldo making his debut for Portugal aged eighteen in 2003, he’s gone on to score 128 goals and created 46 goals for teammates. So, not only is Ronaldo heading into Euro 2024 with more experience than most, but he’s also proven how prolific he is at the level. How many others in Germany this summer have the same impressive international CV?
Everyone knows that Ronaldo is a winner; he’s been a winner for the vast majority of his career. At club level, he’s won it all. And the same applies on an individual level, too. However, what could also be crucial is that Ronaldo is a winner at international level and has won the Euros previously. He helped Portugal take the trophy in 2016. In 2019, he also helped them achieve success by winning the UEFA Nations League. Winners win, regardless of age, and when they have a history of winning a tournament they’re playing in, even better.
Finally, what will really enable Ronaldo to roll back the years, including the above, is the quality of the players around him. Portugal manager Roberto Martinez has a squad loaded with serious talent, and they know what they need to do to get the best out of not only themselves but their talisman, too. The likes of Ruben Neves, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva and Rafael Leal could all steal the show individually and as part of a winning Portugal team. But they could all also help Ronaldo do the same en route to success.