Cristiano Ronaldo moves one step closer to incredible record despite missing Portugal's 9-0 win over Luxembourg
Cristiano Ronaldo is close to becoming the first player to qualify for six different UEFA Euro tournaments after Portugal's 9-0 win over Luxembourg in Euro 2024 qualifying on Monday (September 11).
The 38-year-old was absent from his team's latest win at home after picking up a suspension in the 1-0 win over Slovakia on Friday (September 8). However, his teammates did just fine in his absence, putting nine goals past a hapless Luxembourg side to register their biggest-ever win.
Before this game, Ronaldo had played in all five of the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifiers, scoring five times. His team are now potentially one win away from qualifying for the finals in Germany after registering 18 points from their opening six games.
Slovakia are second with 13 points while Luxembourg are third in the six-team group with 10 points. Portugal will qualify if they beat Slovakia at home and Luxembourg fail to beat Iceland on October 13.
According to @TeamCRonaldo on Twitter, Cristiano Ronaldo is set to be the first player to qualify for six UEFA European Championships. He has, of course, not secured it yet, as the 2016 UEFA European champions have not guaranteed qualification.
Portugal, France and Scotland are the only three teams to have a 100% record in the qualifiers for next year's Euros. France and Scotland, though, have played one game fewer compared to Roberto Martinez's side.
Taking a glance at Cristiano Ronaldo's record at the UEFA Euros
Cristiano Ronaldo's first appearance in the competition came in the 2004 edition almost a year after his international debut in August 2003. Since they were the hosts, Ronaldo's Portugal secured automatic qualification to the tournament, where they were beaten 1-0 in the final by Greece.
Ronaldo has represented his country in every edition of the competition since then. In the UEFA Euro qualifiers, the former Real Madrid superstar has amassed a record tally of 36 goals and four assists in 40 games.
Ronaldo, alongside Iker Casillas, holds the record of playing in five UEFA European Championships. He will take the record outright if Portugal make the finals in Germany and he makes an appearance.
The competition also marked a special milestone in Ronaldo's career. It was the first major international trophy in his trophy cabinet as Portugal went all the way in the 2016 edition, beating France 1-0 in the final after extra time.
Cristiano Ronaldo played in all seven games, registering three goals and as many assists. He's also the all-time leading goalscorer and appearance maker in the UEFA Euros with 14 goals in 25 games over five editions. The Al-Nassr superstar wore the captain's armband in 16 of those games.