“In a hurry and first place guaranteed” - Cristiano Ronaldo reacts after guiding Portugal to Euro 2024 knockouts
Cristiano Ronaldo expressed his pride to lead Portugal to the Euro 2024 knockouts following a commanding 3-0 win over Turkey in Dortmund on Saturday (June 22). Roberto Martinez's side also won Group F with a game to spare.
The 2016 European champions dominated proceedings and deservedly went ahead in the 21st minute through Bernardo Silva. Seven minutes later, a horrendous backpass from Turkish defender Samet Akaydin before Bruno Fernandes sealed the deal 10 minutes after the break.
Ronaldo played a key role in the third goal, leading a breakaway attack and looked good to score. However, he decided to pass the ball to an unmarked Fernandes who made no mistake with the simplest of tap-ins to rubber-stamp the win.
Following the rousing win, Ronaldo posted on Instagram (as translated from Portuguese):
"In a hurry and first place guaranteed. Proud of this team, we are Portugal!"
Roberto Martinez's side next take on Georgia in their final group game in Gelsenkirchen on Wednesday (June 26), having beaten the Czech Republic 2-1 in their opener earlier this week.
Records Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has set at Euro 2024
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo already held a slew of records at the European Championships before arriving at Euro 2024. Two games into the tournament, he has added a few more to his impressive collection.
Already the competition's record goalscorer - both in qualifying (41) and finals (14) - Ronaldo is the first to appear in six different editions of the Euros. With his assist to Fernandes against Turkey, he went level with the Czech Republic's Karol Poborsky (eight) for most assists in competition history.
At 39, he's also the oldest assist provider at the Euros. Ronaldo's first goal at Euro 2024 will make him the oldest scorer in the competition and also the first to score in six different editions.
If he finds the back of the net in the final, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner will break Leonardo Bonucci (34)'s record set in the last European Championship for defending champions Italy three years ago at the Wembley in London.