Ajit Karn
Cristiano Ronaldo was named to Roberto Martinez’s initial Portugal squad on Friday, for Euro 2024 qualifying matches against Liechtenstein and Luxembourg.
During a press conference in which he introduced his 26-man roster, the Spanish coach emphasised that the 38-year-old is “very important to the team.”
“I do not consider age,” Martinez said.
Portugal will play Liechtenstein in Lisbon on March 23, followed by a trip to Luxembourg on March 26.
Martinez stated that his first selection is significant because it is the foundation for Euro 2024.
Ronaldo, whose international career began in August 2003 against Kazakhstan in a friendly, retains the record for most international goals scored by males with 118.
If he returns to the starting lineup, history suggests he will score more goals in the next two matches, at least against Luxembourg.
Portugal has played Liechtenstein seven times, winning six and drawing once, in a 2004 World Cup qualifier that Ronaldo started but did not complete. They have outscored the Principality 35-3, but Ronaldo has never scored against them.
Portugal has faced Luxembourg 19 times, winning 17 times and losing only once while outscoring Luxembourg 59-8. Ronaldo has scored nine goals against any international team.
Since Euro 2004, Ronaldo has represented Portugal in every international competition, winning the European Championship in 2016.
His mission to add a World Cup medal began well in Qatar last year, when he converted a penalty against Ghana to become the first player to score in five World Cups.
However, he was left out of the starting lineup for Portugal’s rout of Switzerland in the round of 16.
When Portugal was defeated by Morocco in the quarterfinals, he started on the sideline and cried throughout the remainder of the tournament.
Squad in full:
Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa (Porto), Jose Sa (Wolves/ENG), Rui Patricio (Roma/ITA)
Diogo Dalot (Manchester United/England), Joao Cancelo (Manchester City/England), Danilo Pereira (Paris Saint-Germain/France), Pepe (Porto), Ruben Dias (Manchester City/England), Antonio Silva (Benfica), Goncalo Inacio (Sporting Lisbon), Diogo Leite (Union Berlin/Germany), Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain/France), and Rapha
Joao Palhinha (Fulham/ENG), Ruben Neves (Wolves/ENG), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City/ENG), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United/ENG), Joao Mario (Benfica), Matheus Nunes (Wolves/ENG), Otavio Monteiro (Porto), and Vitinha (PSG/FRA) are the midfielders.
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Forwards: Goncalo Ramos (Benfica), Joao Felix (Chelsea/ENG), Rafael Leao (AC Milan/ITA), and Diogo Jota (Liverpool/ENG).
