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Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has created history by featuring in the Euro 2024 group game with Georgia in Gelsenkirchen on Wednesday (June 26). He's now the first European player to make 50 appearances at a major tournament.
Having drawn blanks in his first two games, the 39-year-old will look to mark the occasion with a goal. It will make him the oldest scorer at the Euros and also the first to net in six (consecutive) editions of the competition.
For context, only two - Croatia's Luka Modric and Poland's Robert Lewandowski - have done so at four edition, but both are no longer involved at Euro 2024 after their respective team crashed out in the group stage. While Croatia cannot finish as one of the four best third-placed sides, Poland finished fourth.
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Coming back to the Gelsenkirchen game, A Selecao boss Roberto Martinez has rung the changes for what's essentially a dead rubber. He has made eight changes, with only Ronaldo, Joao Palhinha and Diogo Costa starting from the Turkey game.
A Selecao await their Round of 16 opponents. They are slated to play the third-placed team in group A or C in Frankfurt on July 2.
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo chasing more records at Euro 2024
Portugal striker Cristiano Ronaldo is chasing more history at Euro 2024. He has already created two landmarks before matchday three. He became the first player to appear in six editions of the Euros when he took the field against the Czech Republic.
In the 3-0 win over Turkey, Ronaldo unselfishly set up Bruno Fernandes for the third, notching up a record-equalling eighth assist at the Euros, going level with Czech legend Karol Poborsky.
With the 2016 champions through to the knockouts, Ronaldo will have the chance to become the oldest scorer in the final or score a hat-trick. However, they face a tough road to the title match, with 2000 champions France potentially lurking in the quarterfinals and three-time winners Spain in the last-four.
