Cristiano Ronaldo showcased his prowess as Portugal’s star player, scoring twice to lead his team to a 3-0 victory over Ireland in an international friendly on Tuesday, gearing up for Euro 2024.
At 39, Ronaldo silenced critics who doubted the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s ability to perform at the national level due to his age.
Following a 2-1 defeat to Croatia over the weekend, Roberto Martinez’s squad rebounded to boost their confidence ahead of the tournament in Germany.
Ronaldo ignited the match with a brilliant strike five minutes into the second half and followed it up with a clinical finish from Diogo Jota’s pass ten minutes later, solidifying Portugal’s momentum for the Euros.
Despite qualifying with a perfect record, Portugal’s recent performances had raised some concerns. However, their decisive win over Ireland might have restored their confidence.
Adding to his illustrious record, the former Real Madrid, Manchester United, and Juventus star scored his 130th international goal with another assured finish.
Euro 2024 kicks off on Friday, with Portugal facing the Czech Republic in their first match on June 18. They will then compete against Turkey and Georgia in Group F.
Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo, the Al Nassr star and the most followed person on Instagram with a staggering 631 million followers, continues to add to his collection of unusual records.
This time, he achieved yet another milestone, albeit perhaps with the least amount of effort, and he may have his fans, including Kylian Mbappe, to thank for it.
The buzz started earlier in the week when Mbappe, at the age of 25, shared his excitement on Instagram about his move to Real Madrid, his “dream club.”
In his post, Mbappe included a throwback photo featuring his younger self donning a Real Madrid jersey and posing alongside his idol, Ronaldo. Ronaldo, now 39, known for his humility, left a supportive comment under Mbappe’s post, expressing his anticipation to witness Mbappe’s performance at the Bernabeu.
He wrote, “My turn to watch. Excited to see you light up the Bernabeu. #HalaMadrid.”
This seemingly simple comment from Ronaldo quickly gained immense traction, accumulating over 4.7 million likes and earning the title of the most liked comment in Instagram history.
