Cristiano Ronaldo is the all-time record goalscorer in men's international football, with his mark of 130 goals and counting unlikely to ever be beaten. But time waits for no man and Ronaldo is now 39 years old.
The former Manchester United and Real Madrid superstar claimed his first and only major international trophy with Portugal when the Selecao battled their way to glory at Euro 2016. After being forced off with an injury in the first half, Ronaldo could be seen directing and encouraging his teammates from the touchline alongside head coach Fernando Santos. In the end, Portugal claimed a 1-0 win over host nation France.
This year's Euro 2024 tournament in Germany might be Ronaldo's last for his country. His storied international career is unlikely to last as long as the 2026 World Cup, not least since a team blessed with talented attackers will likely turn to younger alternatives to a player who will be 41 by the time of the tournament in North America.
So, what sort of form are Portugal in and will their veteran striker make an impact at Euro 2024?
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Is Cristiano Ronaldo playing for Portugal at Euro 2024?
When Ronaldo lost his starting place for Portugal's last-16 match against Switzerland at the 2022 World Cup and his replacement Goncalo Ramos scored a hat-trick in a 6-1 win, it felt like a changing of the guard.
It might have been, had Portugal not bowed out against surprise package Morocco in the next round. Still, with Roberto Martinez coming in to replace Ronaldo's long-time ally Fernando Santos as head coach, the end of an era still felt possible.
As it happened, Martinez instantly found a place for Ronaldo in his vibrant, expansive Portugal setup. The Al Nassr star scored 10 times in nine Euro 2024 qualifiers. That meant he outscored Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland during the preliminary rounds, with only Belgium's Romelu Lukaku (14) netting more.
Ronaldo was named captain when the Portugal squad was announced ahead of Euro 2024, and he is leading his country's hopes.
Indeed, he was involved in the thick of the action and played the full 90 minutes of their Group F opener against Czechia on June 18, as Portugal had to battle hard to come from behind and claim a 2-1 win.
Ronaldo set another European Championship record in their second match, a 3-0 win over Turkey to reach the knockout stages, as he bagged his seventh assist at a Euro finals — more than any other player in the competition's history.
He endured a more frustrating outing on Matchday 3, failing to make much of an impact and receiving a yellow card for arguing with the referee before going off after just over an hour of the game with Georgia. Portugal were already 2-0 down when he was substituted.
There was more drama in the Round of 16, as Ronaldo missed a penalty deep into extra time that reduced him to tears against Slovenia. He showed remarkable character, though, to step up again and slot home in a penalty shootout, as Portugal edged through to the quarterfinals.
MORE: Cristiano Ronaldo for Portugal: Caps, goals, records
Can Portugal win Euro 2024?
Despite the fact that they flattered to deceive for long spells against Czechia in their opening match of the tournament, the form book would certainly suggest that, yes, they can. Victory over Turkey ensured they booked their spot in the Round of 16 with a group game to spare.
They were oh so close to going out against Slovenia in the Round of 16, but big sides find a way to win big when it matters most.
Yes, Martinez enjoyed a feathered landing into his new job as the Selecao were given a good qualifying draw alongside Slovakia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Luxembourg, but they proceeded to make mincemeat of the competition.
Ten games, 10 wins and 36 goals scored serves as a pretty emphatic statement. And it was not just the Ronaldo show.
From the industry and creativity of Bernardo Silva and Bruno Fernandes in midfield to the lavish attacking talents of Rafael Leao and Joao Felix, this is a supremely gifted Portuguese generation.
One of the criticisms of Santos over recent years was that, after leading a limited and pragmatic lineup to glory at Euro 2016, he was ill-equipped to harness such an inheritance. Martinez's inclination to oversee more expansive attacking football has yielded results and puts Portugal among the contenders for glory in Germany.
Can Cristiano Ronaldo win another Ballon d'Or?
Ronaldo's great rival Lionel Messi won his eighth Ballon d'Or last year on the back of Argentina's historic triumph in Qatar.
They were once locked on five awards apiece as they jousted on either side of the Clasico divide.
As they each play their club football with Al Nassr and Inter Miami respectively, it is fair to assume that the most likely route to another Ballon d'Or is through international achievement. It is rare indeed for a player based at a non-European side to get close to winning the modern award.
Indeed, Messi’s seventh came predominantly as a result of him ending a long wait for his first international trophy at the 2021 Copa America. And although the South American tournament is back in 2024, the Euros may still be the main show in town.
Messi could be in the running again if Argentina can win the tournament in USA, but a strong Ronaldo performance in a Portugal success would likely put CR7 ahead in the running for what would be a sixth Ballon d'Or.