At 38 years old, Cristiano Ronaldo is at the stage of his career where every game can help him extend his scoring record and leave Lionel Messi far behind.
Three months after shedding tears in Qatar, Ronaldo made an impressive return to the Portuguese team with a brace against Liechtenstein in the opening match of EURO 2024 qualifying on March 24.
ESPN believes that every match in the national team is an opportunity for CR7 to create more records. The 38-year-old superstar’s priority should be to expand his personal achievements. Ronaldo will not want to be overshadowed when put on the scale with Messi.
In an effort to stay away from Messi
CR7 must have been desperate to see Portugal eliminated in the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup by Morocco. Meanwhile, rival Messi shined brightly and won the championship with Argentina in Qatar. From the competition of the two best stars in the world, the balance of power is tilted in favor of Messi.
Ronaldo disappointed at the World Cup 2022, the tournament he only had 1 goal. The move to Saudi Arabia to play football in January was judged by the media as a backward step for CR7.
But to the notion that he was out of time, Ronaldo responded with an impressive performance. He scored regularly at Al Nassr (9 goals in 8 games) and was given a chance by new coach Roberto Martinez in the national team.
Ronaldo makes an impressive return to the Portuguese team
“I don’t look at age when choosing players, Ronaldo is very important to the team,” coach Martinez said before the match against Liechtenstein. Maybe the former Everton manager was merely respecting the greatest player of Portuguese football.
In his hand, there is no shortage of attacking players like Rafael Leao, Joao Felix, Diogo Jota or Goncalo Ramos. But Liechtenstein is a weak opponent and an opportunity for Martinez to test Ronaldo’s ability. And CR7 has shown the value.
Ronaldo set the record for the most appearances at the national team level (197 matches).
With 120 goals in 197 matches for Portugal, Ronaldo is far ahead of rival Messi (99 goals in 173 matches). If considered at both club and national level, Ronaldo is also better than Messi (830 goals compared to 800 goals).
ESPN thinks that if CR7 can continue to play and score goals that make Messi unable to catch up, it will be the last glorious achievement in the career of the Portuguese superstar.
Ronaldo is far ahead of Messi in scoring for the national team
If he continues to be trusted by coach Martinez, Ronaldo can reach 200 matches for Portugal in June in the match against Iceland. CR7 has no reason to stop. Before the 2022 World Cup, he once stated that he wanted to attend EURO 2024. At that time, CR7 would turn 39 years old.
ESPN considers the move to Saudi Arabia to play football as a strategic as well as profitable solution for CR7 personally. Financially, Ronaldo became the highest-paid player in the world ($75 million/season).
Besides, this 38-year-old superstar also plays in a less competitive and pressured league than Europe. From there, Ronaldo can accumulate fitness and improve personal achievements against less famous opponents in Saudi Arabia.
Ronaldo’s chance
The EURO championship or the World Cup is far away for Ronaldo and the Portuguese team at the moment, especially after a disappointing performance in Qatar late last year. In the immediate future, coach Martinez’s teachers and students must pass the qualifying round to participate in EURO 2024.
Portugal meets Luxembourg in the second match on March 27. This is CR7’s favorite “prey”. In 120 goals for the national team, the 38-year-old superstar scored 9 goals against Luxembourg, a better achievement than any team in Europe.
Ronaldo has a chance to raise the achivement when he meets unappreciated opponents in the EURO 2024 qualifiers
Portugal will again meet Liechtenstein or Luxembourg in the second leg. Besides, the remaining opponents in the group like Slovakia, Bosnia or Iceland are not too “European Brazil”. This is an opportunity for Ronaldo to expand his personal achievements.
Currently, Portugal needs a new look and Ronaldo is unlikely to become the central figure. But if CR7 continues to make an impact with goals.
Coach Martinez has no reason to exclude this 38-year-old superstar from the team. For Ronaldo, every goal or every appearance is important at the moment.
“This is a new cycle. It is important for Ronaldo to show effort so that we can exploit his experience. Obviously Ronaldo has shown that,” coach Martinez said after the victory over Liechtenstein .
In an effort to hold on to his youth, Ronaldo just wanted his fans to remember him with his records and goals as an old legend who had to go to Asia to play football at the end of his career.
