Portugal vs Czechia, Euro 2024: Cristiano Ronaldo becomes first player to feature in six Euros

Cristiano Ronaldo set a record even before kick-off in Portugal’s opening game against Czechia in a Group F match of Euro 2024, at the Leipzig Stadium in Germany on Tuesday.

Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, second right, and his teammates attend a training before the match against Czechia. | Photo Credit: AP

Cristiano Ronaldo set a record even before kick-off in Portugal’s opening game against Czechia in a Group F match of Euro 2024, at the Leipzig Stadium in Germany on Tuesday.

Having made his European Championship debut in 2004, Ronaldo has featured in every edition of the tournament since, in 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020 and 2024, with the Al Nassr forward named in the starting 11 of Portugal for the match against the Czechs.

He went past his former Real Madrid teammates Luka Modric and compatriot Pepe, who have featured in five editions of the tournament, including 2024, with the former leading Croatia into the tournament in Germany.

MOST APPEARANCES IN EUROS

6 - Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024)

5: Luka Modrić (Croatia 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024), Pepe (Portugal 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024)

4: Lothar Matthäus (West Germany/Germany 1980, 1984, 1988, 2000), Peter Schmeichel (Denmark 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000), Alessandro Del Piero (Italy 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008), Edwin van der Sar (Netherlands 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008), Lilian Thuram (France 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008), Olof Mellberg (Sweden 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012), Gianluigi Buffon (Italy 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016), Petr Čech (Czech Republic 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016), Zlatan Ibrahimović (Sweden 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016), Andreas Isaksson (Sweden 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016), Kim Källström (Sweden 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016), Jaroslav Plašil (Czech Republic 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016), Lukas Podolski (Germany 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016), Tomáš Rosický (Czech Republic 2000, 2004, 2012, 2016), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016), Darijo Srna (Croatia 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016), Giorgio Chiellini (Italy 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020), Sebastian Larsson (Sweden 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020), João Moutinho (Portugal 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020), , Toni Kroos (Germany 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024), Manuel Neuer (Germany 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024), Thomas Müller (Germany 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024), Ivan Perišić (Croatia 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024), Wojciech Szczęsny (Poland 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024)

Ronaldo, who is Portugal’s highest goalscorer and its most successful captain, led the side to win the European Championship in 2016, beating France in the final, which remains their only title so far.

The 39-year-old is coming into the tournament after a prolific season in the Saudi Pro League, where he won the Golden Boot after scoring 33 goals in the 2023-24 season. He is also the record goalscorer in the European Championships, with 14 goals across six campaigns, having played 25 times, which is also a record.

Portugal is drawn in Group F with Czechia (also known as Czech Republic), Turkey and debutant Georgia, and plays the Turks next, three days later.

Meanwhile, Turkey opened its Euro 2024 campaign with a commanding 3-1 win over Georgia, which included a stunner by Real Madrid youngster Arda Guler.