Roberto Martinez Contains Cristiano Ronaldo In Squad For Opening Euro Qualifiers

Cristiano Ronaldo was on Friday included within the first Portugal squad introduced by new coach Roberto Martinez, for Euro 2024 qualifying matches towards Liechtenstein and Luxembourg.

The 38-year-old “is very important for the team,” the Spanish coach burdened throughout a press convention during which he unveiled his squad of 26.

“I do not look at the age,” mentioned Martinez.

Portugal will face Liechtenstein on March 23 in Lisbon earlier than travelling to Luxembourg on March 26.

Martinez mentioned his first squad “is important because it is the starting point” for Euro 2024.

Ronaldo, whose worldwide profession started in August 2003 in a pleasant towards Kazakhstan, holds the world file for males’s worldwide targets with 118.

History means that, if he returns to the beginning line-up, he’ll increase his complete within the subsequent two matches, at the very least towards Luxembourg.

Portugal have performed Liechtenstein seven occasions, profitable six and drawing one, a World Cup qualifier in 2004 which Ronaldo began however didn’t end. They have outscored Liechtenstein 35-3 however Ronaldo has by no means scored towards the Principality.

Portugal have confronted Luxembourg 19 occasions, profitable 17 and dropping only one, outscoring them 59-8. Ronaldo has hit 9 of these, his most towards any worldwide group.

Ronaldo has represented Portugal in each worldwide competitors since Euro 2004, accumulating a European championship winners’ medal in 2016.

His quest so as to add a World Cup medal in Qatar final 12 months, began effectively as he turned the primary participant to attain in 5 editions when he transformed a penalty in a win towards Ghana.

But he was disregarded of the beginning line-up for the last-16 conflict as Portugal ripped Switzerland aside.

When Portugal misplaced to Morocco within the quarter-finals, he began on the bench and ended the event in tears.

Squad in full:

Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa (Porto), Jose Sa (Wolves/ENG), Rui Patricio (Roma/ITA)

Defenders: Diogo Dalot (Manchester United/ENG), Joao Cancelo (Manchester City/ENG), Danilo Pereira (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA), Pepe (Porto), Ruben Dias (Manchester City/ENG), Antonio Silva (Benfica), Goncalo Inacio (Sporting Lisbon), Diogo Leite (Union Berlin/GER), Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA), Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund/GER)

Midfielders: Joao Palhinha (Fulham/ENG), Ruben Neves (Wolves/ENG), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City/ENG), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United/ENG), Joao Mario (Benfica), Matheus Nunes (Wolves/ENG), Otavio Monteiro (Porto), Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA)

Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr/KSA), Goncalo Ramos (Benfica), Joao Felix (Chelsea/ENG), Rafael Leao (AC Milan/ITA), Diogo Jota (Liverpool/ENG)

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