Regarded by many as the greatest of all time, Cristiano Ronaldo will once again spearhead the attack for Portugal as they bid to become European champions for the second time at this summer's Euro 2024 tournament.
Still going strong at the age of 39, Ronaldo - who helped propel Portugal to Euro 2016 glory - played a pivotal role in Euro 2024 qualifying, scoring 10 goals in nine matches as Roberto Martinez's men breezed through to the Finals with a perfect record.
It remains to be seen whether Euro 2024 will represent Ronaldo's last dance on the international stage; the legendary striker will turn 41 when the World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the USA takes place in 2026, two years before the next Euros in the UK and Ireland.
Nevertheless, Ronaldo will be keen to make his mark in Germany and heads into this year's tournament following an impressive campaign at club level with Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr, scoring 44 goals in 45 games across all competitions.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner has scored a remarkable 128 goals in 206 caps during his illustrious 21-year international career with Portugal, more than any other player in football history, and he is sure to have his eye on breaking more records this summer.
Here, Sports Mole takes a closer look at 12 records Cristiano Ronaldo could break at Euro 2024.
© Reuters
Most tournament appearances
Ronaldo is set to become the first-ever player to take part in six European Championships this summer.
As things stand, Ronaldo is level on five tournament appearances with former Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas, but the Portugal captain is set to move ahead of his former Real Madrid teammate, with A Selecao facing Czech Republic in their opening Group F fixture of Euro 2024 on June 18.
Oldest outfield player to play at the European Championship
Ronaldo could also become the oldest outfield player to feature at the tournament, a record that is currently held by former Germany midfielder Lothar Matthaus who made his final Euros appearance, coincidentally, against Portugal in the Euro 2000 group stage, aged 39 years and 91 days.
However, this is one of the few records on this list that Ronaldo is unlikely to break this summer, as his 41-year-old Portuguese teammate Pepe is expected to feature in some capacity at Euro 2024.
Oldest player to score at the European Championship
If Ronaldo scores at least one goal at Euro 2024, he will become the oldest player to score in the tournament's history, surpassing Ivica Vastic (38 years, 257 days old) who netted a 93rd-minute penalty for Austria to rescue a 1-1 group-stage draw with Poland at Euro 2008.
Once again, however, Ronaldo is at risk - albeit a minor one - of being beaten to this record by Portuguese teammate Pepe, who has eight goals for his country in 136 appearances.
© Reuters
Most goals at different European Championships
Ronaldo would also become the first-ever player to score at six different European Championship tournaments if he finds the net at least once at Euro 2024.
The striker has found the net in each of his previous five Euros outings in 2004 (two), 2008 (one), 2012 (three), 2016 (three) and 2020 (five).
Most goals in a single European Championship tournament
After scoring five goals for Portugal at Euro 2020, Ronaldo is currently one of only nine men to have scored five or more goals at a single European Championship tournament.
Only France icon Michel Platini (nine at Euro 1984) and current Les Bleus star Antoine Griezmann (six at Euro 2016) have ever enjoyed more prolific campaigns.
Oldest goalscorer in the European Championship final
Portugal are regarded as one of the favourites to go all the way at Euro 2024. They will face the Czech Republic, Turkey and Georgia in Group F and if they successfully advance to the knockout rounds and navigate their way to the final, Ronaldo could then etch his name in the history books once again.
Indeed, Ronaldo will be vying to become the oldest goalscorer in a European Championship final, a record currently held by newly-retired Italy defender Leonardo Bonucci - another former teammate of Ronaldo's during his Juventus days - who scored against England in the Euro 2020 final.
If Portugal were to win this year's tournament, Ronaldo would become only the second player, after Spain's Casillas in 2008 and 2012, to captain his country to two Euro titles.
© Reuters
Most penalty-shootout goals at the European Championship
If at any stage in this year's tournament Portugal find themselves in a penalty shootout, Ronaldo could become the first player in European Championship history to score in three separate shootouts.
Most assists at the European Championship
Ronaldo has provided a total of seven assists at the European Championship and is just two assists away from surpassing former Czech Republic winger Karel Poborsky (eight) to become the outright top assister in the tournament's history.
Most chances created at the European Championship
Ronaldo is also on the verge of creating the most chances by a single player in European Championship history. The striker heads into Euro 2024 having created a total of 41 chances across his previous five tournament appearances, just one fewer than comparison Luis Figo (42).
One player who could challenge Ronaldo for this record in Belgium playmaker Kevin De Bruyne, who sits joint-sixth on the all-time list having created a total of 36 chances to date.
© Reuters
Most Golden Boot wins at the European Championship
After winning the Golden Boot at Euro 2020, scoring five and sharing the award with Czech Republic's Patrik Schick, Ronaldo could become the first-ever player to win two Golden Boots at the tournament if he scores more than his fellow competitors at Euro 2024.
Most Man of the Match awards at the European Championship
Ronaldo has been named Man of the Match a total of six times at the European Championship, level with former Spain midfielder Andreas Iniesta. The Portugal captain will become the outright record-holder for this category if he receives another individual match accolade at Euro 2024.
Most Team of the Tournament selections
Ronaldo could also become the first player in European Championship history to be selected in the Team of the Tournament on four separate occasions, having previously been chosen in 2004, 2012 and 2016.
The striker is currently tied with Portuguese teammate Pepe, Italian Paolo Maldini and Frenchman Laurent Blanc, who have all featured in three Team of the Tournaments.
© Reuters
What records can Cristiano Ronaldo extend at Euro 2024?
Ronaldo is currently the all-time leading goalscorer at the European Championship with 14 goals, five more than Michel Platini (nine) in second place.
Across all international tournaments, Ronaldo has scored 128 goals and has found the net against 47 different nations worldwide. He has scored twice against Group F opponents the Czech Republic, but is yet to net against either Turkey or Georgia, so if Portugal progress to the knockout rounds of Euro 2024, he could end the tournament having scored against 50 different nations.
Ronaldo has registered the most goal attempts (137) in Euros history, a staggering 85 more than France's Thierry Henry (52) in second place.
In addition, Ronaldo is the most capped international men's player of all time with 206. He has also made the most appearances at the European Championship Finals (25) and the most appearances including qualifiers (64).
The Portugal star has also won the most matches at the Euros (12), a record broken at Euro 2020 when he surpassed Spanish duo Andreas Iniesta and Cesc Fabregas (11).
