Cristiano Ronaldo fans, rejoice! It seems the legendary forward’s Portugal career isn’t quite over yet, as new boss Roberto Martinez has reportedly decided to include him in the upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers. According to The Athletic, Martinez recently held talks with the 38-year-old superstar before making the call-up decision.
Martinez, who resigned from Belgium duty after the World Cup, will be the fifth manager Ronaldo has played under in his nearly 20-year international career.
The new Portugal manager, who took over from Fernando Santos in January, has little doubt about Ronaldo’s abilities. The Spaniard has made it clear that he plans to give all the players an opportunity and respect those already on the national team. Ronaldo, Portugal’s top scorer with 118 goals, certainly falls into that category.
“We’re going to make important decisions for the team,” said Martinez. “But I’m delighted to be able to have them [the players] by my side. It’s a process that we have to face naturally, with responsibility.”
Ronaldo’s Status So Far
Ronaldo had previously been coy about his international future after being left out by his previous manager Fernando Santos during the Qatar World Cup. The Portugal star suffered heartbreak in the quarter-finals against underdogs Morocco, but it seems he’s not ready to hang up his international boots just yet.
The former Real Madrid star previously captained Portugal to Euros glory in 2016. He also has the joint-most international caps in the history of men’s football with 196 competitive appearances, a record he shares with Kuwait’s Bader Al-Mutawa.
With 118 goals, Ronaldo also holds the record for most goals across competitions on the international platform, nine more than second-placed Ali Daei of Iran and 20 more than his arch-rival Lionel Messi.
Ronaldo’s move to Saudi outfit Al-Nassr at the end of last year had some fans speculating that his international career may be over, but with eight goals in nine matches for his new club, it’s clear he still has plenty to offer. And with no indication yet as to how involved he’ll be in the upcoming qualifiers, Ronaldo’s commitment to representing his country is surely unwavering.
These qualifiers may provide Ronaldo with an opportunity to chase some individual accolades. The Portugal star currently shares the record for most international caps in men’s football history with Kuwait’s Bader Al-Mutawa.
With Portugal set to host Liechtenstein, and Al-Mutawa in action against the Philippines on the same day, it’s possible Ronaldo could claim the record for himself.
What to Expect
Ronaldo’s return to the Portugal squad is expected to boost the Portuguese Football Association’s finances. While there is no confirmation about how much Ronaldo will feature in the Euro 2024 qualifiers campaign, it is clear that he is committed to the national team and is eager to chase more personal milestones.
As Portugal takes on Liechtenstein in the Euro 2024 qualifiers, fans will be hoping that Ronaldo can help his team secure a crucial victory.
The UEFA Euro 2024, a.k.a. the 17th edition of the UEFA European Championship, is an upcoming international men’s football tournament held every four years in Europe. It is organized by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA).
