Portugal Archives

Record-breaking Ronaldo ‘wants more’ with Portugal

Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo said on Wednesday that he wants to go “even further” after becoming the first player to score 850 career goals with Saudi club side Al-Nassr.

Cristiano Ronaldo was named in Portugal’s squad on Friday for the upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers against Slovakia and Luxembourg.

“I want more,” the forward told a press conference before training with the national side at Oeiras, on the outskirts of Lisbon, ahead of upcoming European Championship qualifiers.

“As long as I play I want to set the bar very high, I have to think big,” continued the 38-year-old.

Ronaldo marked his 200th international cap last June by scoring the only goal in Portugal’s victory over Iceland, which allowed the Selecao to stay top of Group J in Euro 2024 qualifying.

On Friday, the 2016 European champions will play Slovakia in Bratislava and Luxembourg three days later at the Algarve stadium, in the south of Portugal.

“I really want to win these two matches. If we win we will practically qualify,” said the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.

Asked about his rivalry with Argentina’s Lionel Messi, Ronaldo replied that the two “respected each other” and he believes they have “changed the history of football”.

Ronaldo this year marks his 20th anniversary in the national side, saying he was “proud” of this “longevity”.

“I want to continue because I feel good and useful but anything can happen,” he said, adding for now he wanted to “enjoy the moment” and set himself the goal of “having an excellent Euro”.

Portugal squad for Euro 2024 Qualifiers:

Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa (Porto/POR), Jose Sa (Wolves/ENG), Rui Patricio (Roma/ITA)

Defenders: Diogo Dalot (Manchester United/ENG), Nelson Semedo (Wolves/ENG), Joao Cancelo (Manchester City/ENG), Danilo Pereira (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA), Ruben Dias (Manchester City/ENG), Antonio Silva (Benfica), Goncalo Inacio (Sporting Lisbon), Toti (Wolves/ENG).

Midfielders (6): Joao Palhinha (Fulham/ENG), Ruben Neves (Al-Hilal/KSA), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United/ENG), Otavio (Al-Nassr/KSA), Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City/ENG)

Forwards (7): Ricardo Horta (Braga), Rafael Leao (AC Milan/ITA), Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid/ESP), Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr/KSA), Pedro Neto (Wolves/ENG), Goncalo Ramos (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA), Diogo Jota (Liverpool/ENG).

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Ronaldo wants to be ‘most capped player in history’

LISBON: Cristiano Ronaldo made no secret Wednesday of his ambition to notch up another world record — for the number of international caps — a day before Portugal face Liechtenstein in Euro 2024 qualifiers.

The 38-year-old was named in new Portugal coach Roberto Martinez’s first squad despite being dropped from the starting lineup for Portugal’s final matches of the World Cup in Qatar.

Ronaldo already holds the world record for men’s international goals, with 118, and the European men’s record of 196 caps, a tally that also equals the world landmark with Kuwait’s Bader Al-Mutawa.

“Records are my motivation,” Ronaldo told reporters.

“I want to become the most capped player in history. That would make me proud.

“But it doesn’t stop there, I still want to be called up very often.”

Ronaldo’s international career began in August 2003 in a friendly against Kazakhstan and he has represented Portugal in every international competition since Euro 2004.

After the Liechtenstein match, Portugal face Luxemburg on Sunday.

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Seferovic’s epic header help Switzerland beat Portugal in Nations League

GENEVA: Haris Seferovic, record-breaking header in the first minute helped Switzerland to achieve their first win in the UEFA Nations League campaign as the home side triumphed Portugal 1-0 in the Group A2 clash, here at Stade de Geneve on Sunday.

Seferovic scored the fastest goal in the Nation League’s short history as he headed the ball into the box after just 56 seconds into the game.

Portugal nearly leveled the lead as the forward Rafael Leao struck in the 18th minute but his effort was disallowed for offside.

Following halftime, Portugal intensified their attack, but despite Bernardo Silva’s strike from the edge of the box in the 63rd minute and Diogo Jota’s stunning header in the 78th, the efforts went in vain and failed to get on the scoresheet.

After the surprising defeat, Portugal lost the top spot in Group A2, as they fell to second place with seven points while Spain, who beat the Czech Republic 2-0 in the other game, moved to the top with eight points. Switzerland still remain at the bottom whereas the victory earned the team three points.

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Cancelo, Goncalo strikes propel Potugal 2-0 against Czech Republic

LISBON: Portugal secured a comfortable 2-0 win against the Czech Republic in their UEFA Nations League encounter with defender Joao Cancelo and winger Goncalo Guedes scoring two goals in the first half to seal the fate of the away side, here on Friday.

Portugal cemented their position on the top spot of Group A4 with seven points after the home win.

The opening goal in the 33rd minute put Portugal ahead of their opponent in the game after Benardo Silva assisted with a through ball to Cancelo who shot with the right foot to the bottom left corner of the nets.

Within the next minutes, Goncalo scored another goal from a similar spot followed by an assist again from Silva, enabling their side to dominate the game in front of the home crowd.

Portugal will now travel to Geneva for their next game against Switzerland next Sunday, whereas, the Czech Republic will face Spain in an away game.

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Ronaldo double leads Portugal to sweep Switzerland in Nations League

LISBON: Portugal secured a home win against Switzerland as Cristiano Ronaldo struck twice to thrash the away side 4-0, in Group B match of League A in UEFA Nations League.

Ronaldo put on a phenomenal show as he reached 117 international goals with the double strikes in the game. The Manchester United star remained the leading goal scorer in the international games.

Portugal scored their opening goal in the 15th minute as the mid-fielder William Carvalho tapped the ball into the nets after a freekick.

The 37-year-old Ronaldo then netted the ball twice in the 35th and 39th minute to take his team towards a comfortable lead in the game before the halftime.

After superb work from clubmate Bernardo Silva, it was the Manchester City full-back Joao Cancelo who took the scoresheet to 4-0 by putting the ball past the onrushing Swiss goalkeeper Gregor Kobell and into the empty net.

Previously Portugal finished in a tie with Spain 1-1 in their first game of the UEFA Nations League.

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Horta equals Spain lead as Portugal force draw in UEFA Nations League

SEVILLE: Portugal striker Ricardo Horta stunned Spain with his late equalizer to draw 1-1 in the opening match of Group two in the UEFA Nations League, here at Estadio Benito Villamarin Stadium on Thursday.

Spain made a promising start to the game after Alvaro Morata netted the ball in the 25th minute, following a fine showcase of passing by midfielders Gavi and Pablo Sarabia.

Horta, who came as a substitute in the second half, however, nullified Spain’s lead, eight minutes before the final whistle.

Horta’s goal ensured a fourth consecutive draw between the two historic rivals. Portugal have not beaten Spain in a competitive match since 2004. Portugal have also been unable to win against Spain on the latter’s home soil.

Both the teams will play three more Nations League matches in the next 10 days. Portugal will host the Czech Republic and face Switzerland twice while Spain will travel to Switzerland between two matches against the Czechs.

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Ronaldo nets hat-trick as Portugal rout Luxembourg

Faro: A 58th career hat-trick from Cristiano Ronaldo helped Portugal stroll to a 5-0 home win over Luxembourg in Group A of World Cup qualifying on Tuesday.

The treble, which meant Ronaldo became the first man to net 10 international hat-tricks, takes his tally to 115 international goals from 182 caps as he continues to pull away as the top men’s international goalscorer of all-time.

Victory ensures Portugal remain a point behind leaders Serbia, who moved onto 17 points with a 3-1 home win over Azerbaijan, with a game in hand and superior goal difference.

Portugal had the game all but won within the first 18 minutes.

Ronaldo struck twice from the penalty spot before his Manchester United team mate Bruno Fernandes made it three as he fired in following good work from Bernardo Silva.

The forward then missed two gilt-edged chances either side of the break as he sought a third, before being denied a spectacular hat-trick goal when Anthony Moris kept out his acrobatic overhead kick.

Portugal did not have to wait long for their fourth, however, as midfielder Joao Palhinha headed in from the resulting corner with just over 20 minutes to go.

Ronaldo was not to be denied as the hosts pushed on, netting three minutes from time with a header from close range.

Next month Fernando Santos’s Portugal side travel to Ireland before then hosting Serbia in what could be a winner-takes-all fixture to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.