Diogo Jota includes Cristiano Ronaldo as he names 3 best shooters in Portugal's Euro 2024 squad
Portugal attacker Diogo Jota has named his captain Cristiano Ronaldo among his team's three best shooters in their Euro 2024-bound squad. A Selecao open their campaign against the Czech Republic in Leipzig on Tuesday (June 18).
The Euro 2016 winners warmed up for their continental campaign with a convincing 3-0 friendly win over the Republic of Ireland in Aveiro on Tuesday (June 11). Ronaldo, making only his second international game in 2024, stood out with a brace to enter the record books.
After a sparkling club campaign with Al-Nassr - 44 goals in 45 games across competitions - including a record 35 strikes in the Saudi Pro League - the 39-year-old scored against Ireland to become the first male player to score in 21 straight years in international football.
One of six forwards in A Selecao's Euro 2024 squad, Jota has no qualms admitting that his captain Ronaldo is the team's best shooter, followed by Bruno Fernandes and himself. Jota said (as per Cristiano Xtra):
“Cristiano first, Bruno second, and me third.”
The other three attackers in Roberto Martinez's side are Goncalo Ramos, Joao Felix and Rafael Leao.
A look at how Diogo Jota and Cristiano Ronaldo fared in Portugal's Euro 2024 qualifying campaign
Portugal enjoyed a 'perfect' Euro 2024 campaign, winning all 10 games, scoring 36 goals and conceding just twice. Cristiano Ronaldo and Diogo Jota had contrasting campaigns, though.
While the Al-Nassr forward bagged 10 goals and two assists in nine games, Jota had a much quieter campaign had two goals and as many assists in seven games during the qualifiers.
Jota, 27, had a decent club season with Liverpool, though, contributing 15 goals and four assists in 32 games across competitions. The Reds won the EFL Cup, reached the quarterfinals in the FA Cup and the UEFA Europa League and finished third in the Premier League.
Ronaldo, meanwhile, is looking forward to a record-extending sixth European Championship appearance at Euro 2024. If the Portugal captain scores, he will become the oldest one to do in the finals and the first player to do so in six different editions, with nobody else scoring in more than three.