While Cristiano Ronaldo is a player who looks as though he could continue playing for another decade, Euro 2024 is likely to be the last European Championship for the Portugal star.
At the age of 39, Ronaldo might well be ready to bid farewell to this major tournament and Portugal have all the motivation they need to see their iconic forward out on a high.
Ronaldo Can Lead From The Front
While the standard of the Saudi Pro League is not as high as that of the Premier League, La Liga or Serie A, Ronaldo is still showing signs he can be a real force at Euro 2024. Ronaldo, who is +1200 in the football odds to win the Golden Boot at this summer’s major tournament in Germany, already has over 30 goals in the Saudi top flight this season. Ronaldo has shown he can still cause defences problems and should be a focal point in attack for a Portugal side that are +800 in the Euro odds to win the tournament on German soil. Ronaldo’s ability in the air and his powerful shots have not faded over time and the veteran certainly looks like a serious contender for the Golden Boot at Euro 2024.
With 128 goals in his first 206 appearances for his country, there is no doubting the impact Ronaldo has had with the national side and why he’s so admired in Portugal. At the last World Cup in Qatar in 2022, the captain helped lead his side to the quarter-finals, before what was a shock 1-0 defeat at the hands of Morocco. Ronaldo might well feel that there is some unfinished business on how that tournament in the Middle East ended and will be eager to put things right in Germany.
Portugal Expected To Dominate Group
Having been drawn in a favorable group, there will be high expectations this Portuguese side can go far at Euro 2024. Portugal has found itself in Group F, which includes the Czech Republic, Turkey and Georgia. At sixth, Roberto Martínez’s side is by far the highest country in the FIFA rankings ahead of the tournament. The Czech Republic is the second highest at 36th in the rankings, with Turkey 40th and first-time European Championship finalists Georgia down at 75th. Given those standings alone, there would be no surprise to see Portugal finish top of the table, meaning they would face the runners-up from potential groups A, B or C in the Round of 16.
Despite their favorable group, Portugal will know they can take nothing for granted after disappointing in the last European Championship in 2020. Placed in the toughest group of the competition, Portugal managed to reach the knockout stages, despite finishing third in a pool that included France, Germany and Hungary. Their time in the competition was short-lived as the Portuguese suffered a 1-0 defeat in the Round of 16 at the hands of Belgium in Seville.
Euro 2024 provides an opportunity for Ronaldo to end his story with the European Championship on a high in Germany this summer. The legendary forward has already achieved glory in the competition in 2016 and this Portugal side will again be dark horses when the highly-anticipated tournament gets underway.
