RONALDO’S FIRED UP
Final shot at glory:
Cristiano Ronaldo says his ageing legs will never tire of trying to drive Portugal to glory. The 36-year-old superstar leads the defending champions out for their opening clash with Hungary in Budapest tonight.
Victory could well be crucial, with France and Germany also lying in wait in Group F, but Ronaldo says he has every faith in his team.
The Juventus forward said: “I’m going into this Euros as if it’s my first. When it comes to playing for the national team, especially in a major tournament, there’s no such thing as tiredness or heavy legs. We are the reigning champions and we are contenders.”
Since his international debut as an 18-year-old at the 2004 Euros, Ronaldo has bagged
104 goals in 175 appearances, including nine hat-tricks and a couple of four-timers.
He’s the only player to have scored at four Euros and it is a massive odds-on bet that he will make that five.
Ronaldo is just five goals behind international record scorer Ali Daei, above, of Iran.
The Portuguese said: “For me, more important is winning two Euros. The team have been working very well, they are prepared and now we have the desire of starting on the right foot, to win the first game.”
With a personal fortune estimated by Forbes at around $500million (£354m) and five Ballon d’Or awards it would be easy for Ronaldo to take his foot off the gas, but he goes into this tournament with the same spring in his step.
“I’ve won lots of trophies – Champions League, national titles and cups in several countries but Euro 2016 was the most important I’ve ever won. Winning with Portugal has a special taste,” he told FPF360 magazine.
There was a tinge of sadness he was forced out 25 minutes into the final win over France five years ago after picking up a knee injury.
But he said:“We were so proud to bring the trophy home. To win it again would be incredible.
“We have fantastic memories of July 10 [Euro 2016 final]. It was a magic day that will forever be in the history of Portugal.
“This year the final falls on the 11th and we all want to be at Wembley on that day. I have a lot of belief in this team.”
VINTAGE MASTER HAS LEGS FOR SHOT AT GLORY