Cristiano Ronaldo is set to feature in his 11th major international tournament this summer, with the Al-Nassr forward named in the Portugal squad for Euro 2024.
Cristiano Ronaldo is set to feature in his 11th major international tournament, with the Al-Nassr forward named in the Portugal squad for this summer’s European Championship.
There had been huge doubt over the forward’s international future following the 2022 World Cup, but incoming head coach Roberto Martinez made it clear that Ronaldo was very much in his plans.
At 39, he has scored 42 times and registered 13 assists in 42 appearances for Al-Nassr this season, and Ronaldo is now preparing to feature at a record sixth European Championship.
Portugal will open their Euro 2024 challenge with a clash against the Czech Republic on June 18, while they will also take on Turkey and Georgia in the group stage of the competition.
Ronaldo has scored a staggering 128 goals in 206 appearances for Portugal since making his debut in August 2003, and he is set to be an important player for Martinez’s side at Euro 2024.
© Reuters
Ronaldo will again spearhead Portugal’s challenge
There are nine Premier League players in the group, including Ruben Dias and Bernardo Silva, who helped Manchester City win the English title this season.
Meanwhile, Manchester United duo Diogo Dalot and Bruno Fernandes are also in the squad.
Pepe is selected at the age of 41, with the defender the oldest player in the group, while Benfica’s Joao Neves, who is being heavily linked with a summer move to Man United, is the youngest at the age of 19.
“Pepe’s role in the locker room is important, the way he represents the national team shirt,” Martinez told reporters during his press conference.
“When he is fit, he is a very important player. We have a very interesting dressing room because we have players from different generations.
© Reuters
Nine Premier League players are in the squad
“We have a good mix of experience and youngsters. It’s a list of 26 players that will give a good response.”
Joao Felix, who has spent this season on loan at Barcelona from Atletico Madrid, is also named in the squad, as is Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Pedro Neto, with the attacker recently back from injury.
Alongside Ronaldo, there are two further players from the Saudi Pro League in the squad, with Al-Nassr’s Otavio and Al-Hilal’s Ruben Neves selected.
“Decisions have to do with the level at which the players are at,” Martinez added. “The level of competition is not a problem, it is more a question of the number of minutes, games, personal moment and role in the national team.”
Man City’s Matheus Nunes is a notable absentee from the squad, with the midfielder overlooked for a position, while Bayern Munich’s Raphael Guerreiro misses out through injury.
Portugal recorded a 4-2 victory over Finland in their first Euro 2024 warm-up clash on Tuesday evening, and they will now tackle Croatia and the Republic of Ireland in their next two friendlies.
Martinez guided Belgium to third at 2018 World Cup
© Reuters
Martinez knows what it takes to lead a side deep into a major tournament, having overseen Belgium’s third-placed finish at the 2018 World Cup.
At Euro 2020, though, Belgium were eliminated by Italy in the quarter-finals, before the national side failed to make it through the group at the 2022 World Cup in what was a huge disappointment.
The signs are bright under Martinez, though, and it would be fair to say that the Spaniard has a hugely talented squad at his disposal.
How Martinez uses Ronaldo at Euro 2024 will be a fascinating watch, as he is not exactly short of options in the final third of the field, and the national side are being tipped as serious challengers for the crown.
Portugal Euro 2024 squad in full:
Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa (Porto), Jose Sa (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Rui Patricio (Roma)
Defenders: Antonio Silva (Benfica), Danilo Pereira (Paris Saint-Germain), Diogo Dalot (Manchester United), Goncalo Inacio (Sporting Lisbon), Joao Cancelo (Barcelona), Nelson Semedo (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain), Pepe (Porto), Ruben Dias (Manchester City)
Midfielders: Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Joao Neves (Benfica), Joao Palhinha (Fulham), Otavio Monteiro (Al-Nassr), Ruben Neves (Al-Hilal), Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain)
Forwards: Bernardo Silva (Manchester City), Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr), Diogo Jota (Liverpool), Francisco Conceicao (Porto), Goncalo Ramos (Paris Saint-Germain), Joao Felix (Barcelona), Pedro Neto (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Rafael Leao (AC Milan)