As we approach Euro 2020, Cristiano Ronaldo’s name is synonymous with records, and he is on the verge of breaking several more. With Cristiano Ronaldo’s age of 36, this could be one of the final major tournaments of his illustrious career.
Breaking records is nothing new for a player who has dominated the world football stage for nearly a decade and a half. Despite his age, Ronaldo finished the 2019-20 season as one of the top scorers in the top five European leagues. He also won the Serie A Golden Boot by a five-goal margin over Romelu Lukaku.
Let’s take a look at five records Cristiano Ronaldo could break at Euro 2020.
Most appearances at Euros in total (including appearances at the qualifying stage)
Cristiano Ronaldo is on his way to becoming the most experienced player in the competition’s history. Gianluigi Buffon, the legendary goalkeeper, currently holds the record for most appearances in the competition, including qualifying and the final.
In his career, the Italian has made 58 appearances for his country. In 2017, Buffon announced his retirement from international football. Ronaldo has played in both the qualifying and final stages of the Euros, totaling 56 appearances. To dethrone the legendary Italian goalkeeper as the player with the most appearances at Euros, he needs to make three more.
Ronaldo has won 36 games, drawn 12 times, and lost eight times in his 56 appearances.
Oldest scorer in a Euro final
Over the last five years, Portugal has been one of Europe’s most powerful forces. In the last five years, they have won two major tournaments. After winning the first edition of the UEFA Nations League, they followed up their triumphant run at Euro 2016.
They’re considered one of the favourites to win Euro 2020. If Portugal advances to the competition’s final, Ronaldo will have the opportunity to become the oldest player to score in a Euro final.
Bernd Hölzenbein of West Germany currently holds the record, which he set in 1976. Cristiano Ronaldo will be 36 years and 156 days old on the day if Portugal advances to the final.
Most number of international goals in the history of football
Cristiano Ronaldo is on the verge of becoming international football’s all-time leading scorer. Ali Daei of Iran has 109 goals to his credit. With 103 goals, Ronaldo is in second place.
To overtake Ali Daei at the top, he needs seven more goals. With 73 goals, Ali Makhbout of the UAE is the closest to Ronaldo among active players. Sunil Chhetri of India and Lionel Messi of Argentina both have 72 points.
Ronaldo will break the record for most international goals scored by a player in the history of the game if he scores seven goals at Euro 2020. It will be the pinnacle achievement for one of the game’s all-time great players.
Most Euro finals campaigns
Cristiano Ronaldo first played in the European Championships in 2004. Since then, he has been a regular in Portugal’s first team. He has dominated the international stage and is a multi-time winner.
Ronaldo was a natural leader who was unfortunate to be forced off the field in the Euro 2016 final against France, which his team eventually won.
Ronaldo has appeared in four Euro finals matches so far. Four Euro finals have featured seventeen footballers. However, no one has shown up in the last five days. Ronaldo will become the first player to appear in all five editions of Euro 2020 when he represents Portugal.
Most number of goals at Euro finals
Cristiano Ronaldo made an immediate impact at the Euros, scoring his first goal against Greece. Ronaldo has scored eight more goals in the Euro finals since then. This time, he’s expected to add a lot more.
He is currently tied for the most goals scored at the tournament with Michael Platini. Platini’s nine goals were all scored at Euro 1984, which is interesting. They were distributed in four editions by Ronaldo. If he scores even once at Euro 2020, he will break the record for most goals scored in the competition’s history.
