Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice to make history at Euro Cup 2020 on Tuesday, making him the leading scorer in the Championship’s history with 11 goals in a men’s record fifth tournament appearance.
At the age of 36, he beat the previous mark of nine set by France’s Michel Platini. All of Platini’s goals came in France’s triumphant Euro campaign on home soil in 1984. Ronaldo is also the only man to score in five European Championship tournaments, extending his own record. He first appeared at a European Championship in 2004 when he helped Portugal reached the final on home soil.
Following his appearance against Hungary, the Portugal star is three games from breaking the record of 58 appearances in European competition (qualifying phase and finals), held by Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.
Ronaldo’s strike, which put the title holders 2-0 up with three minutes left, was his 10th in the European Championship finals. Ronaldo then another goal in stoppage time, his 11th Euros strike securing a 3-0 win in the Group F match, which overtook the records of Germany’s Birgit Prinz and Inka Grings, who both scored 10 at the women’s European Championship. The women’s tournament is scheduled every two years, compared with four years for the men’s equivalent.
Ronaldo’s 10th and 11th goals of the Euros were his 105th and 106th for Portugal. Only Ali Daei of Iran has scored more goals for his country – 109.
Before Portugal’s goal rush, Hungary thought they had snatched a first win over the visitors when Szabolcs Schon had the ball in the net. But Schon’s effort was disallowed for offside in the build-up.
Ronaldo has a year left on his contract with Juventus but has not committed to the side and is expected to decide his future after the tournament is over.
