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Cristiano Ronaldo is set to lead Portugal's attacking line at Euro 2024 in Germany. The Portugal captain will play in a record-extending sixth European Championship.
He won the competition once, in 2016. A young Ronaldo was also a key player of the Portugal side that finished runner-up in 2004. He's the all-time top scorer in the history of the Euros, with 14 goals.
Ronaldo is one of the leading candidates to win the Golen Boot at Euro 2024, just like he did in the previous edition of the competition. In this listicle, we rank the five reasons why he could finish as the top scorer once again.
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Five reasons why Cristiano Ronaldo will win the Golden Boot at Euro 2024
#1 Pre-tournament form
Cristiano Ronaldo has been on fire ahead of the competition in Germany. He finished the 2023-24 season with Al-Nassr with 44 goals and 13 assists in 45 games across competitions.
Ronaldo also scored 10 goals and provided two assists in nine appearances during the Euro qualifiers. He has been firing on all cylinders and also scored a brace in the friendly against Ireland on Tuesday.
An in-form Ronaldo is an asset for any team, even if he's 39. The Portugal captain will look to carry his form into Euro 2024.
#2 Supply line
Portugal have a stellar squad in their ranks. That's perhaps one of the most talented groups the Selecaos have had in their history. Cristiano Ronaldo has players that can supply him.
The likes of Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Joao Felix and Rafael Leao are some of the best creative players in world football. Moreover, youngsters like Joao Neves and Francisco Conceicao are also in the team.
Ronaldo, if supplied with chances, tends to find the back of the net. With so much creativity around him, the chances are that the Portugal captain will do so at the Euros in Germany.
#3 Roberto Martinez's trust
A player like Cristiano Ronaldo thrives when he's trusted by the manager. That wasn't the case leading up to his disastrous 2022 FIFA World Cup campaign in Qatar.
Ronaldo fell out with his then Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag, and Portugal manager Fernando Santos also benched him when things didn't go right. Historically, Ronaldo has performed his best under managers who have trusted him.
Roberto Martinez is doing just that. The Spaniard acknowledges Ronaldo's quality and is counting on him to produce the goods at Euro 2024. It's unlikely that the five-time Ballon d'Or winner will let his manager down.
#4 Portugal's group-stage opponents
Portugal are in Group F alongside Turkey, Georgia and Czechia. Georgia are defensively vulnerable, conceding 18 goals in eight qualifying games. It was their performance in the 2022-23 Nations League that earned Khvicha Khvaratskhelia and Co. a spot in the Euro 2024 playoffs.
Turkey, meanwhile, conceded seven goals in eight games, while Czechia let in six goals in eight matches. Neither team faced an opposition with Portugal's attacking prowess during the qualifiers.
Cristiano Ronaldo could well turn out to be rampant during the group stage of the competition. That could give him a massive edge in the race for the Golden Boot. Portugal are also expected to make a deep run at the European Championship.
#5 Fire to make amends for FIFA World Cup 2022
The 2022 FIFA World Cup was arguably the lowest point of Cristiano Ronaldo's glorious career. He was benched by his country in the biggest stage, while his eternal rival Lionel Messi won the holy grail.
On a personal level, Ronaldo was nowhere near his best. Such a disappointing tournament is bound to ignite a fire in a competitive athlete like the Portugal captain.
The consensus was that he was on borrowed time in the national team, but Ronaldo has since proven that he still has a lot to offer. A good outing at Euro 2024 will help the 39-year-old prove that he still remains a force to be reckoned with.
