Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Ronaldo sets Euro record

- Compiled from Democrat-Gazette Press Services

Cristiano Ronaldo’s record-setting day came in front of the first packed crowd of this year’s European Championsh­ip. The Portuguese great set the record for most career goals at the tournament in the 87th minute from the penalty spot and then added another in injury time to give the defending champions a 3-0 victory over Hungary on Tuesday in Budapest, Hungary. Ronaldo’s goals, however, weren’t the only interestin­g part of the game. On the fifth day of the Euro 2020 tournament, this was the first match played in a full stadium. The 67,215-capacity Puskas Arena was packed with mostly Hungarian fans, and they made their presence known throughout the match. The Juventus forward was playing in his fifth European Championsh­ip, dating back to Euro 2004. He entered this year’s edition even with Michel Platini at nine goals, but that only lasted 87 minutes. The 36-year-old Ronaldo, who now has 11 goals all-time at the European Championsh­ip, also became the only player to score at five consecutiv­e European Championsh­ips. Ronaldo scored his first goal after Rafa Silva was fouled by Willi Orban in the area and the referee whistled for a penalty. Ronaldo, who had missed an easy chance near the end of the first half, shot to the right of goal and got his record. The second came when he combined with Silva in front of goal and then skipped around Hungary keeper Peter Gulacsi before rolling the ball into an empty net with his left foot. Ronaldo is also now only three behind former Iranian striker Ali Daei’s men’s record of 109 internatio­nal goals. Portugal defender Raphael Guerreiro scored the opening goal three minutes before Ronaldo’s first with a shot that deflected off a defender and wrong-footed Gulacsi.

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