Current:Home > ScamsCristiano Ronaldo, 39, to play for Portugal in his sixth UEFA Euro Championship -GrowthInsight
Cristiano Ronaldo, 39, to play for Portugal in his sixth UEFA Euro Championship
TradeEdge View
Date:2025-04-10 18:22:50
Portugal's 39-year-old forward Cristiano Ronaldo will play in his sixth UEFA Euro Championship and veteran defender Pepe also made the cut as coach Roberto Martinez named his 26-man squad on Tuesday.
Ronaldo, who has scored in every Euros since his first appearance in 2004, has netted 14 goals in the finals. He also scored 10 times in European qualifying matches last year.
Ronaldo now plays for Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr where he has scored 42 goals and provided 13 assists in all competitions.
"Cristiano? It's better to talk about the data. He's a player who's scored 42 goals in 41 games for his club," Martinez said.
"That shows his continuity and physical ability to always be fit, as well as the quality he has in front of goal, which we really like and need."
However, Ronaldo will not be the oldest member of the squad with Martinez also calling up Porto defender Pepe who turned 41 this year.
Pepe was an integral part of Porto's team this year, making 38 appearances as they reached the Champions League last 16 and finished third in the league behind Sporting and Benfica. They are also in the Cup final.
"Pepe's role in the dressing room is important, the way he represents the national team shirt. I think that during the training camp, football is a constant struggle," Martinez added.
"And it was interesting to see Pepe play two games in March and keep a clean sheet for the 90 minutes he played. His communication, his positioning mean that, when he's fit, he's a very important player."
Nine players from the Premier League have been called up including Ruben Dias, Diogo Dalot, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva and Diogo Jota. Goncalo Inacio is the only Sporting player in the squad.
Portugal's squad for Euro Championship
Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa (Porto), Jose Sa (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Rui Patricio (AS Roma)
Defenders: Antonio Silva (Benfica), Danilo Pereira (Paris St Germain), Diogo Dalot (Manchester United), Goncalo Inacio (Sporting), Joao Cancelo (Barcelona), Nelson Semedo (Wolves), Nuno Mendes (PSG), Pepe (Porto), Ruben Dias (Manchester City)
Midfielders: Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Joao Neves (Benfica), Joao Palhinha (Fulham), Otavio Monteiro (Al Nassr), Ruben Neves (Al-Hilal), Vitinha (PSG)
Forwards: Bernardo Silva (Manchester City), Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr), Diogo Jota (Liverpool), Francisco Conceicao (Porto), Goncalo Ramos (PSG), Joao Felix (Barcelona), Pedro Neto (Wolves), Rafael Leao (AC Milan).
veryGood! (659)
Related
- Rams vs. 49ers highlights: LA wins rainy defensive struggle in key divisional game
- Average rate on 30
- The city of Chicago is ordered to pay nearly $80M for a police chase that killed a 10
- Former Syrian official arrested in California who oversaw prison charged with torture
- The White House is cracking down on overdraft fees
- Backstage at New York's Jingle Ball with Jimmy Fallon, 'Queer Eye' and Meghan Trainor
- Military service academies see drop in reported sexual assaults after alarming surge
- Gen. Mark Milley's security detail and security clearance revoked, Pentagon says
- Hackers hit Rhode Island benefits system in major cyberattack. Personal data could be released soon
- Woman dies after Singapore family of 3 gets into accident in Taiwan
Ranking
- Krispy Kreme offers a free dozen Grinch green doughnuts: When to get the deal
- Which apps offer encrypted messaging? How to switch and what to know after feds’ warning
- San Francisco names street for Associated Press photographer who captured the iconic Iwo Jima photo
- Alex Murdaugh’s murder appeal cites biased clerk and prejudicial evidence
- Former longtime South Carolina congressman John Spratt dies at 82
- Toyota to invest $922 million to build a new paint facility at its Kentucky complex
- Intellectuals vs. The Internet
- NFL Week 15 picks straight up and against spread: Bills, Lions put No. 1 seed hopes on line
Recommendation
All That You Wanted to Know About She’s All That
Backstage at New York's Jingle Ball with Jimmy Fallon, 'Queer Eye' and Meghan Trainor
Trump invites nearly all federal workers to quit now, get paid through September
McConnell absent from Senate on Thursday as he recovers from fall in Capitol
Trump wants to turn the clock on daylight saving time
Arkansas State Police probe death of woman found after officer
Nearly 400 USAID contract employees laid off in wake of Trump's 'stop work' order
The Grammy nominee you need to hear: Esperanza Spalding