Since his first successful steps in the 2006 World Cup in Germany (semi-finals), the superstar has experienced several disappointments in the big tournament, being unable to get past the round of 16 (2010 and 2018) and even being eliminated in the first round (2014).
But the five-time Ballon d’Or winner opened his record with Portugal by winning the European Championship in France-2016, expanding it with the 2019 League of Nations, the first two trophies in the history of the Seleçao.
At an age when soccer players are usually retired, the legend of Madeira continues to take care of his body to the extreme and adding recordsbeing indispensable for the Portuguese team.
“Whether he plays or not, Cristiano is Cristiano. It’s an honor to have him in our national team. Even at 37 years of age, we can always count on him,” summarized Atlético striker Joao Félix.
To become CR7, the trademark player, Ronaldo maintained an “abnormal” ambition, according to his former Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane.
Being number 1 was always his goalwhich cost him a lot of criticism for being too individualistic in a collective sport.
world record goals
Five times winner of the Champions League (one with Manchester United and five with Real Madrid), Ronaldo reigned in world football together with his eternal rival Lionel Messi, seven times Ballon d’Or.
But in recent seasons he has shown his decline, both at Juventus and Manchester United, to which he returned in 2021 and in which he is not a starter this season.
The years go by and the Portuguese does not seem able to maintain the same energy. Very far from the irresistible dribbler of his early days, he has become a center forward with great definition, managing to become the top scorer in the Champions League (140 goals, to Messi’s 129, his first pursuer).
With more than 800 goals in official matches (117 with Portugal, a national team record), he also surpassed the legendary Pelé (767) and the old world record, the 805 of the Czech Josef Bican.
In Qatar he will have the opportunity to become the first player to score in five editions of the World Cup. But she looks further. “I want to continue in the national team in the World Cup and in the European championship (2024),” he declared in September.