Jose Mourinho explains why 128-goal Cristiano Ronaldo won’t draw Euro 2024 blank – with Portugal talisman back to enhance international record

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner is the all-time leading scorer in men’s international football. He has earned 206 caps, with a senior debut for his country made all the way back in 2003. Ronaldo is now 39 years of age and approaching an 11th major tournament.

He has been showing no sign of slowing down, posting 50 goals for Al-Nassr in the 2023-24 campaign, and Mourinho has told RTP of what to expect from his fellow countryman at another European Championship: “Cristiano is the one who knows how he feels, what his goals are, how the coach wants to use him, whether to play every minute of every game or protect him in key moments. But there’s a lot that goes on inside that gets between them. He has a lot of influence and he will score his goals. I don’t believe he will leave the European Championship without goals.”

With Ronaldo ready to lead the line, having been benched at times during the 2022 World Cup, Mourinho added on which nations he expects to challenge for a continental crown in Germany: “I think practically everyone thinks like me. Portugal, England, France, below them are Germany and Spain.”

Portugal, who delivered Euros glory for Ronaldo in 2016, have been placed in Group F and will open their campaign under the guidance of Roberto Martinez against the Czech Republic on June 18 – before going on to face Turkey and Georgia.