Portugal coach Roberto Martinez insisted on Friday that Cristiano Ronaldo deserves to play for Portugal at Euro 2024, as the ageing icon prepares to face Turkey in a potentially crucial Group F clash.
Ronaldo is Portugal’s all-time top scorer with 130 goals in a record 208 international appearances and is playing at his sixth European Championship at the age of 39.
Ronaldo featured in Portugal’s entire 2-1 victory against the Czech Republic in Leipzig but did not find the net, as Francisco Conceicao scored the decisive late goal.
“If you want to analyze his physical statistics, you should consider his performance over the last 12 months,” Martinez added, highlighting Ronaldo’s impressive tally of 44 goals in 45 club matches during the past season. Additionally, Ronaldo scored seven goals in seven appearances for Portugal leading up to the start of the Euros.
Despite moving to Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia last year, he remains a key player for his national team, although Martinez acknowledged that he is not the same player he once was. Martinez confirmed that he will feature in Dortmund on Saturday.
Portugal are currently behind Group F leaders Turkey on goal difference. However, if Portugal wins at the Westfalenstadion and Georgia fails to defeat the Czechs in Hamburg, Portugal will qualify for the last 16 in Germany as group winners.
