Current:Home > InvestCristiano Ronaldo, 39, to play for Portugal in his sixth UEFA Euro Championship -FundTrack
Cristiano Ronaldo, 39, to play for Portugal in his sixth UEFA Euro Championship
View
Date:2025-04-27 18:37:21
Portugal's 39-year-old forward Cristiano Ronaldo will play in his sixth UEFA Euro Championship and veteran defender Pepe also made the cut as coach Roberto Martinez named his 26-man squad on Tuesday.
Ronaldo, who has scored in every Euros since his first appearance in 2004, has netted 14 goals in the finals. He also scored 10 times in European qualifying matches last year.
Ronaldo now plays for Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr where he has scored 42 goals and provided 13 assists in all competitions.
"Cristiano? It's better to talk about the data. He's a player who's scored 42 goals in 41 games for his club," Martinez said.
"That shows his continuity and physical ability to always be fit, as well as the quality he has in front of goal, which we really like and need."
However, Ronaldo will not be the oldest member of the squad with Martinez also calling up Porto defender Pepe who turned 41 this year.
Pepe was an integral part of Porto's team this year, making 38 appearances as they reached the Champions League last 16 and finished third in the league behind Sporting and Benfica. They are also in the Cup final.
"Pepe's role in the dressing room is important, the way he represents the national team shirt. I think that during the training camp, football is a constant struggle," Martinez added.
"And it was interesting to see Pepe play two games in March and keep a clean sheet for the 90 minutes he played. His communication, his positioning mean that, when he's fit, he's a very important player."
Nine players from the Premier League have been called up including Ruben Dias, Diogo Dalot, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva and Diogo Jota. Goncalo Inacio is the only Sporting player in the squad.
Portugal's squad for Euro Championship
Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa (Porto), Jose Sa (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Rui Patricio (AS Roma)
Defenders: Antonio Silva (Benfica), Danilo Pereira (Paris St Germain), Diogo Dalot (Manchester United), Goncalo Inacio (Sporting), Joao Cancelo (Barcelona), Nelson Semedo (Wolves), Nuno Mendes (PSG), Pepe (Porto), Ruben Dias (Manchester City)
Midfielders: Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Joao Neves (Benfica), Joao Palhinha (Fulham), Otavio Monteiro (Al Nassr), Ruben Neves (Al-Hilal), Vitinha (PSG)
Forwards: Bernardo Silva (Manchester City), Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr), Diogo Jota (Liverpool), Francisco Conceicao (Porto), Goncalo Ramos (PSG), Joao Felix (Barcelona), Pedro Neto (Wolves), Rafael Leao (AC Milan).
veryGood! (4)
Related
- Spooky or not? Some Choa Chu Kang residents say community garden resembles cemetery
- 83-year-old Michigan woman killed in gyroplane crash
- Amazon: Shoppers are distracted by big news events, like assassination attempt
- Olympic gymnastics highlights: Simone Biles wins silver, Jordan Chiles bronze on floor
- South Korea's acting president moves to reassure allies, calm markets after Yoon impeachment
- From trash to trolls: This artist is transforming American garbage into mythical giants
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Whodunit? (Freestyle)
- Hurricane Debby to bring heavy rains and catastropic flooding to Florida, Georgia and S. Carolina
- Juan Soto to be introduced by Mets at Citi Field after striking record $765 million, 15
- Schwab, Fidelity, other online trading brokerages appear to go dark during huge market sell-off
Ranking
- Most popular books of the week: See what topped USA TODAY's bestselling books list
- Algerian boxer Imane Khelif speaks out at Olympics: 'Refrain from bullying'
- Save 80% on Michael Kors, 50% on Banana Republic, 70% on Gap & Today's Best Deals
- Bloomberg apologizes for premature story on prisoner swap and disciplines the journalists involved
- 'Squid Game' without subtitles? Duolingo, Netflix encourage fans to learn Korean
- U.S. takes silver in first ever team skeet shooting event at Olympics
- Japan’s Nikkei 225 index plunges 12.4% as world markets tremble over risks to the US economy
- Sha'Carri Richardson gets silver but no storybook ending at Paris Olympics
Recommendation
Elon Musk's skyrocketing net worth: He's the first person with over $400 billion
Why Jordan Chiles' score changed, giving her bronze medal in Olympic floor final
Wildfires rage in Oregon, Washington: Map the Pacific Northwest wildfires, evacuations
National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day is Sunday. Here's how to get a free cookie.
New Zealand official reverses visa refusal for US conservative influencer Candace Owens
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Cat Righting Reflex
Flag contest: Mainers to vote on adopting a pine tree design paying homage to state’s 1st flag
USA breaks world record, wins swimming Olympic gold in women's medley relay