With Portugal playing its first match at the 2024 Euro, let’s take a look back at all of captain Cristiano Ronaldo’s debut games at each tournament over the past 20 years. In a 2-1 win against the Czech Republic, 39-year-old Ronaldo became the first player to compete in six European Championships.
From Euro 2004 to Euro 2024.
— Fabrizio Romano(@FabrizioRomano) June 18, 2024
Cristiano Ronaldo 🎞️🇵🇹
📸 @totalcristiano pic.twitter.com/LonBM3cM5K
Table of Contents
Ronaldo’s Journey
2004 – Portugal vs Greece (1-2)
Age: 19
Club: Manchester United
Minutes Played: 45
Total Shots: 2
Assists: 0
Goals: 1
Playing in his first Euro, Ronaldo came in as a substitute for Simão Sabrosa. While Portugal attempted 18 shots compared to Greece’s five, Ronaldo scored Portugal’s only goal of the match. With the game practically decided, at 90+3 minutes, he knocked in a header.
2008 – Portugal vs Turkey (2-0)
Age: 23
Club: Manchester United
Minutes Played: 90 minutes
Total Shots: 5
Assists: 0
Goals: 0
After earning the Ballon d’Or and the FIFA World Player of the Yearand leading Manchester United to win the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League, Ronaldo helped Portugal defeat Turkey 2-0 in the 2008 Euro. While Ronaldo didn’t score in this game, he attempted five shots, with two on target.
2012 – Germany vs Portugal (1-0)
Age: 27
Club: Real Madrid
Minutes Played: 90
Total Shots: 4
Assists: 0
Goals: 0
In Portugal’s first match of the 2012 Euro, Germany scored the only goal of the match in the 72nd minute. Ronaldo had many opportunities to score, but could not convert, attempting four shots, with all of them being on target.
2016 – Portugal vs Iceland (1-1)
Age: 31
Club: Real Madrid
Minutes Played: 90
Total Shots: 10
Assists: 0
Goals: 0
In the 2016 Euro match against Iceland, Cristiano Ronaldo had many chances to score recording nearly 40% of Portugal’s shots but was unable to find the back of the net. Portugal dominated the game on the score sheet recording 26 shots compared to Iceland’s 4, as well as 73% possession. Despite all this, Iceland held a rock-solid defense denying Ronaldo a chance to score and ending the game in a 1-1 tie.
.@Cristiano is the star man at #Euro2016 – but Iceland kept him quiet | @p_smith86 https://t.co/iGdfSjE82s pic.twitter.com/ZtKnCfuVSc
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) June 15, 2016
2020 – Hungary vs Portugal (0-3)
Age: 35
Club: Juventus
Minutes Played: 90
Total Shots: 4
Assists: 0
Goals: 2
Cristiano Ronaldo delivered a stellar performance in the delayed 2020 Euros. Ronaldo scored 2 goals in the final minutes of the game, sealing Portugal’s 3-0 victory. With his two goals, Ronaldo became the European Championship’s all time leading scorer.
#HUN 0-3 #POR as it happened.
— Football Italia (@footballitalia) June 15, 2021
Marco Rossi’s Hungary held out for 84 minutes in Budapest, but Cristiano Ronaldo bagged an historic brace as Portugal ran riot with an eventual 3-0 win https://t.co/zlqDGEAJk1 #Euro2020 #HUNPOR #CR7 pic.twitter.com/UG5WHbByil
2024 – Portugal vs Czech Republic (2-1)
Age: 39
Current Club: Al Nassr
Minutes Played: 90
Total Shots: 5
Assists: 0
Goals: 0
This year Ronaldo is the 2nd oldest player at the Euros tournament behind his teammate Pepe. He had an underwhelming night on the scoreboard, however, he was heavily involved in key plays for Portugal recording the most shots of Portugal’s starting 11. Ronaldo continues to not only be an important player on the field, but a mentor and leader for Portugal.
Cristiano Ronaldo is playing in his 6th Euros.
— StatMuse FC (@statmusefc) June 18, 2024
The most by any player in history. pic.twitter.com/s2HLnEd00M
