Be warned: Ronaldo is back on the Euro warpath
Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal celebrates after victory in the UEFA Euro 2020 Championship Group F match between Hungary and Portugal at Puskas Arena on June 15, 2021 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
BUDAPEST, June 15, 2021 - Many footballers, as the threatening mid-30s rush towards them, are tempted to parlay their achievements against the security of a rich last contract. But Cristiano Ronaldo is different. At 36 he remains relentless and ruthless in pursuit of even more goals and trophies and records.
A 19-year career with Sporting, Manchester United, Real Madrid and now Juventus have brought CR7 some 29 international and national club trophies, one European Championship and one Nations League with Portugal (in 2016) and a multiplicity of individual prizes.
So much but not enough. An insatiable appetite drives Ronaldo onward to maintain a level of super fitness which secured his record-breaking 10th and 11th goals in the European Championship finals.
Ronaldo struck twice late in the game as holders Portugal opened their Euro Group F campaign with a 3-0 victory over Hungary in Budapest. The venue was the Puskas Arena, named in honour of the greatest of Hungarian footballers but also one who remains as much a Real Madrid legend as Ronaldo.
As it stands Ronaldo’s national team tally is now 106 goals in 176 international appearances, only three fewer than Iranian Ali Daei’s 109-goal world men’s record. His 11 goals in a record five Euro finals are two more than the nine-goal record which Ronaldo shared previously with Frenchman Michel Platini.
Yet Hungary, outclassed but never outrun, made him wait almost all the match in front of a 60,000-plus crowd.
Ronaldo’s hunger was evident as early as the fourth minute when he berated Diogo Jota for shooting instead of passing him the ball. Then, remarkably, Ronaldo proved himself human by lofting over the bar when unmarked in front of goal just before the interval.
Portugal carried on in the second half as they had left off at the interval. Busy Hungarian goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi dived right to save from Pepe then dived left to deny Bruno Fernandes. But the goals were inevitable.
In the 84th minute a shot from Raphael Guerreiro was deflected beyond Gulacsi off central defender Willy Orban. Minutes later the luckless Orban’s foul on Rafa Silva presented Ronaldo with the opportunity to thunder home a penalty.
Victory for Portugal, a record for Ronaldo.
But still not enough. Hence, in stoppage time, he danced into space to claim his own second goal and the holders’ third.
An opening victory was crucial in this intimidating Group of Death. Not only for Portugal. France, most observers' favourites to add the European crown to their World Cup, emulated Portugal by defeated hosts Germany 1-0 in Munich.
Coach Didier Deschamps will not be satisfied with all aspects of the performance but initial cameos from the likes of Kylian Mbappe, recalled Karim Benzema, Paul Pogba, N'Golo Kante and Raphael Varane promise plenty of room for improvement. No such consolation for opposite number Joachim Low. The Germans must improve their finishing if they hope to rekindle the dying embers of his reign.
A Greenpeace protester, who parachuted into the stadium before kickoff, was dealt with more effectively by security than was the French attack by Germany’s defence.
The opening exchanges saw Paul Pogba pop a header over the bar and Mbappe force a diving save from Manuel Neuer. The goalkeeper was helpless in the 20th minute, however, when Pogba opened up the German right flank for Lucas Hernandez to deliver a cross which Mats Hummels thumped into his own net.
Portugal are next visitors to Germany and Munich, on Saturday – the sort of grand stage on which Ronaldo thrives.
A 19-year career with Sporting, Manchester United, Real Madrid and now Juventus have brought CR7 some 29 international and national club trophies, one European Championship and one Nations League with Portugal (in 2016) and a multiplicity of individual prizes.
So much but not enough. An insatiable appetite drives Ronaldo onward to maintain a level of super fitness which secured his record-breaking 10th and 11th goals in the European Championship finals.
Ronaldo struck twice late in the game as holders Portugal opened their Euro Group F campaign with a 3-0 victory over Hungary in Budapest. The venue was the Puskas Arena, named in honour of the greatest of Hungarian footballers but also one who remains as much a Real Madrid legend as Ronaldo.
As it stands Ronaldo’s national team tally is now 106 goals in 176 international appearances, only three fewer than Iranian Ali Daei’s 109-goal world men’s record. His 11 goals in a record five Euro finals are two more than the nine-goal record which Ronaldo shared previously with Frenchman Michel Platini.
Yet Hungary, outclassed but never outrun, made him wait almost all the match in front of a 60,000-plus crowd.
Ronaldo’s hunger was evident as early as the fourth minute when he berated Diogo Jota for shooting instead of passing him the ball. Then, remarkably, Ronaldo proved himself human by lofting over the bar when unmarked in front of goal just before the interval.
Portugal carried on in the second half as they had left off at the interval. Busy Hungarian goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi dived right to save from Pepe then dived left to deny Bruno Fernandes. But the goals were inevitable.
In the 84th minute a shot from Raphael Guerreiro was deflected beyond Gulacsi off central defender Willy Orban. Minutes later the luckless Orban’s foul on Rafa Silva presented Ronaldo with the opportunity to thunder home a penalty.
Victory for Portugal, a record for Ronaldo.
But still not enough. Hence, in stoppage time, he danced into space to claim his own second goal and the holders’ third.
An opening victory was crucial in this intimidating Group of Death. Not only for Portugal. France, most observers' favourites to add the European crown to their World Cup, emulated Portugal by defeated hosts Germany 1-0 in Munich.
Coach Didier Deschamps will not be satisfied with all aspects of the performance but initial cameos from the likes of Kylian Mbappe, recalled Karim Benzema, Paul Pogba, N'Golo Kante and Raphael Varane promise plenty of room for improvement. No such consolation for opposite number Joachim Low. The Germans must improve their finishing if they hope to rekindle the dying embers of his reign.
A Greenpeace protester, who parachuted into the stadium before kickoff, was dealt with more effectively by security than was the French attack by Germany’s defence.
The opening exchanges saw Paul Pogba pop a header over the bar and Mbappe force a diving save from Manuel Neuer. The goalkeeper was helpless in the 20th minute, however, when Pogba opened up the German right flank for Lucas Hernandez to deliver a cross which Mats Hummels thumped into his own net.
Portugal are next visitors to Germany and Munich, on Saturday – the sort of grand stage on which Ronaldo thrives.
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