Breaking news
South Africa stripped of their 2023 Rugby World Cup title…U.S. women’s national soccer team starts World Cup with 3-0…Pakistan vs Jordan 0-3: FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier –…World Cup 2023-24 prize money: How much did Mikaela Shiffrin…T20 World Cup 2024: England star Ben Stokes pulls out…Former Michigan football tight end selects transfer destination – Yahoo…Egypt’s Late Goal Denies Mozambique’s Thrilling Comeback in the African…Ghana Suffers Heartbreaking 1-2 Defeat to Cape Verde Islands in…FIFA and Coca-Cola Men World RankingLionel Messi wins football’s Ballon d’Or for the eighth timeTwo individuals tragically lost their lives before the scheduled football…WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS: Brazil’s Coach Diniz Praises Neymar and Vinicius.Morocco, Portugal and Spain joint bid FIFA World Cup 2030The Best 2023: Over One Million Votes Cast with the…Euro 2028 to be hosted by Britain and Ireland, while…Portugal secures their inaugural World Cup victoryPreview of the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup Match: India…Welteji and Kessler achieved world record breaking performancesAsian Games 2023: Gilas Pilipinas win first men’s basketball gold Cricket World Cup 2023: Pakistan beat NetherlandsPakistan vs Afghanistan15 ways to make the most of your new cameraReggae Boyz slips two places on FIFA Coca Cola World…ICC Mens T20 World Cup Africa Sub Regional Qualifier A…Latest Cricket News, Live Updates Today September 20, 2024: Hasan…Women's Soccer vs South Carolina State on 9/19/2024 – Box…Male and Trinity lead Class 6A in latest Kentucky High…

Cristiano Ronaldo becomes 1st player to play at 6 European Championships as Portugal starts with win – The Associated Press

Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, right, and Czech Republic’s David Jurasek challenge for the ball during a Group F match between Portugal and Czech Republic at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Leipzig, Germany, Tuesday, June 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
APTOPIX Czech Republic’s goalkeeper Jindrich Stanek (1) stops a shot by Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo during a Group F match between Portugal and Czech Republic at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Leipzig, Germany, Tuesday, June 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)
Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, right, duels for the ball with Czech Republic’s Tomas Holes during a Group F match between Portugal and Czech Republic at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Leipzig, Germany, Tuesday, June 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr Josek)
Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo shouts during the warm up prior for a Group F match between Portugal and Czech Republic at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Leipzig, Germany, Tuesday, June 18, 2024. (Robert Michael/dpa via AP)
Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo kicks the ball as he warms up for the Group F match between Portugal and Czech Republic at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Leipzig, Germany, Tuesday, June 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, right, and Czech Republic’s David Jurasek challenge for the ball during a Group F match between Portugal and Czech Republic at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Leipzig, Germany, Tuesday, June 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, right, and Czech Republic’s David Jurasek challenge for the ball during a Group F match between Portugal and Czech Republic at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Leipzig, Germany, Tuesday, June 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
APTOPIX Czech Republic’s goalkeeper Jindrich Stanek (1) stops a shot by Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo during a Group F match between Portugal and Czech Republic at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Leipzig, Germany, Tuesday, June 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)
APTOPIX Czech Republic’s goalkeeper Jindrich Stanek (1) stops a shot by Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo during a Group F match between Portugal and Czech Republic at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Leipzig, Germany, Tuesday, June 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)
Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, right, duels for the ball with Czech Republic’s Tomas Holes during a Group F match between Portugal and Czech Republic at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Leipzig, Germany, Tuesday, June 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr Josek)
Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, right, duels for the ball with Czech Republic’s Tomas Holes during a Group F match between Portugal and Czech Republic at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Leipzig, Germany, Tuesday, June 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr Josek)
Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo shouts during the warm up prior for a Group F match between Portugal and Czech Republic at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Leipzig, Germany, Tuesday, June 18, 2024. (Robert Michael/dpa via AP)
Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo shouts during the warm up prior for a Group F match between Portugal and Czech Republic at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Leipzig, Germany, Tuesday, June 18, 2024. (Robert Michael/dpa via AP)
Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo kicks the ball as he warms up for the Group F match between Portugal and Czech Republic at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Leipzig, Germany, Tuesday, June 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo kicks the ball as he warms up for the Group F match between Portugal and Czech Republic at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Leipzig, Germany, Tuesday, June 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
LEIPZIG, Germany (AP) — Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to feature at six European Championship tournaments when he captained Portugal to a 2-1 win over the Czech Republic in their opening game on Tuesday.
The 39-year-old Ronaldo, who made his tournament debut at Euro 2004 where Portugal reached the final, already had the records for the most goals (14) at the tournament, while he extended his appearance record to 26 games. He helped Portugal win the title at Euro 2016.
He warmed up for this edition with two goals as Portugal defeated Ireland 3-0 in its final preparation games.
“Another chapter in our history begins today,” Ronaldo wrote on X before the match. “I fondly remember my first day with the national team, a journey full of challenges and victories. Now I have the honor of being alongside a team of champions, full of talent and determination. With everyone’s strength and support, we’re turning dreams into reality. Together let’s fight for another triumph. United, we’re unstoppable.”
He was stopped by Czech goalkeeper Jindrich Stanek on Tuesday. Stanek pulled off a string of saves to thwart the Portuguese — and Ronaldo in particular — who dominated the game with nearly three quarters of the ball possession.
Ronaldo was a threat throughout and earned praise from Czech coach Ivan Hasek after the match.
“It’s really incredible that at his age he is this dangerous and fruitful in every game. He really showed his qualities,” Hasek said. “Hats off to him, he’s one of the best of all time.”

Ronaldo was the joint-top scorer at Euro 2020 with five goals — the same as Czech forward Patrik Schick, who also played Tuesday. Ronaldo previously scored against the Czech Republic at the 2008 and 2012 editions of the tournament.
Altogether, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner has 130 goals in 208 games for Portugal since making his debut as an 18-year-old under Brazilian coach Luiz Felipe Scolari in August 2003.
Ronaldo just finished the club season setting a goal-scoring record 35 goals in the Saudi Pro League for runner-up Al-Nassr. He had an action-packed season, with four hat tricks and one red card. He was also suspended for an obscene gesture in February at Al-Shabab fans who were chanting longstanding rival Lionel Messi’s name.
Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr in January 2023 after an acrimonious exit from Manchester United while he was at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. It was his second stint at the English club after successful spells at Juventus and Real Madrid, where he won the Champions League four times. He also won it in 2008 in his first stint at United.
AP Euro 2024: https://apnews.com/hub/euro-2024
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

source

Share this post

PinIt

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

scroll to top