Here’s a quick look back at all the goals scored by Portugal captain Ronaldo in group stage   |  Photo Credit: AP
Key Highlights
- Cristiano Ronaldo will hope to guide Portugal to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Euro 2020
- Cristiano Ronaldo-led Portugal will take on Eden Hazard’s Belgium in the Round of 16 phase of the UEFA Euro 2020
- Cristiano Ronaldo is the top-scorer in the 16th edition of the European championship
Normal services have been resumed at the UEFA Euro 2020 for ‘record-breaking’ Cristiano Ronaldo as the talismanic forward of the Portugal national team has guided the defending champions to the knockout stage of the European championship. The milestone man from Madeira has hit a purple patch for the Navigators and the Juventus icon is showing no signs of slowing down at the age of 36.
Dubbed as the modern-day great in the beautiful game, Ronaldo is enjoying a record-fest outing with Portugal at the UEFA Euro 2020. Nicknamed CR7, the Juventus stalwart almost single-handedly powered Portugal to the Round of 16 phase of the ongoing European championship. The only player to feature in five editions of the European championships, Ronaldo has so far managed to score in every single match for the defending champions at the UEFA Euro 2020.
Ronaldo has shattered a plethora of records in his fifth European championship campaign for reigning champions Portugal. As goal-machine Ronaldo will be raring to go in Portugal’s Round of 16 meeting with Eden Hazard-led Belgium, let’s recall all of the decisive strikes of the Portugal captain in the UEFA Euro 2020 group stage.
Historic brace vs Hungary
Fresh from becoming the first player to play in five European tournaments, Portugal opened his Euro 2020 account by converting the 87th-minute penalty for Fernando Santos’ men at the Ferenc Puskás Stadium. Ronaldo then doubled his tally at stoppage time (90+2) to confirm Portugal’s 3-0 thrashing of Hungary. In the same match, Ronaldo became the all-time top scorer in the European championship.
Portugal’s opener against Germany
Portugal’s second match in the group of death was a tough pill to swallow for Ronaldo. The Navigators were upstaged by Germany in their crucial Group F game contested at the famous Allianz Arena. Joachim Low’s Germany thrashed Portugal to bounce back in the UEFA Euro 2020 after conceding 1-0 defeat at the hands of World Champions France. However, Ronaldo still managed to enter his name on the scoresheet in the high-voltage clash. CR7 netted the opener in Portugal’s 4-2 defeat against Germany.
Double for Portugal in a stalemate with France
In the rematch of the 2016 UEFA Euro final, Ronaldo scored a crucial brace against France to make sure the defending champions enter the Round of 16 phase of the European championship. The 36-year-old converted two penalties against France to set Portugal’s date with Belgium in the knockout round. Ronaldo-led Portugal bagged 4 points and finished behind France and Germany in the group of death at the UEFA Euro 2020.
The former Real Madrid and Manchester United superstar also scored his 109th international goal which made him the joint-all-time international record goalscorer. Ronaldo had matched Iran star Ali Daei’s all-time international record in Portugal’s 2-2 draw with France. The Portugal captain is also the current leading goalscorer at the UEFA Euro 2020. Ronaldo-led Portugal will square off against Belgium in the Round of 16 at the Estadio de La Cartuja on Monday.