Cristiano Ronaldo sets incredible new personal milestone at Euro 2024; surpasses his previous best at European Championships
Cristiano Ronaldo continues to set new personal records, doing so most recently at Euro 2024. The legendary striker is 39 years old but remains hungry and driven towards success. He has not found the back of the net at the ongoing European Championships in Germany so far but has broken his top speed at the Euros.
Player speeds only started being recorded at the Euros in 2012, when the Portuguese striker was 27 years old. His top speed at that tournament was 32km/hr, however, three tournaments and a dozen years later, he bettered that, hitting a speed of 32.7km/hr, as per UEFA.
Cristiano Ronaldo has seen a decline in his abilities, both technically and physically as a result of his age. While Euro 2024 could be his last European Championships, he is still a strong option for Portugal and remains keen to break and set records.
The Real Madrid legend will be keen to get on the scoresheet in his nation's final group-stage game against Georgia. A goal for Ronaldo in the game would see him become the first player to score in six Euros and the oldest player to ever find the back of the net in the competition's history.
Cristiano Ronaldo looking to end poor freekick record at Euro 2024
According to a stat compiled by ESPN, legendary striker Cristiano Ronaldo has failed to score from 29 free-kick attempts since making his debut at the European Championships in 2004.
The Real Madrid legend is considered by many as among the greatest players of all time and was revered as a deadly freekick taker earlier in his career. His ferocious knuckleball technique struck fear in the hearts of keepers, but even then he never scored from a direct freekick at the Euros.
Ronaldo has seen his effectiveness in deadball situations decline sharply since around 2014 following an injury. This makes it less likely that the legendary striker will find the net from a freekick, but with Euro 2024 looking likely to be his final appearance at the European Championships, he might not have another chance.
Portugal have already qualified for the knockout stages of Euro 2024 ahead of their game against Georgia. This gives Ronaldo at least two more chances to score from a direct freekick at the Euros, with the final group stage game having the least pressure.