CRISTIANO RONALDO OPENS UP ON EURO 2024 ‘DREAM’ AFTER STUNNING BRACE FOR PORTUGAL – ‘A GIFT TO PLAY YEAR AFTER YEAR’

In Portugal’s last warm-up match before the tournament, Cristiano Ronaldo scored two incredible goals to send his nation into Euro 2024 with a 3-0 victory over the Republic of Ireland.

Ronaldo scored his 129th and 130th goals for Portugal on his 207th cap. Ahead of his sixth Euros, at the age of 39, he acknowledged after the match that it is “a gift” to represent his nation and the “love of his life.”

Ahead of his 11th major international event, Cristiano Ronaldo describes the opportunity to represent Portugal at the age of 39 as “a gift.”

The Portuguese sensation, who has made 207 appearances for his country and scored 130 goals, completed his team’s European Championship preparations on Tuesday by scoring an incredible brace against the Republic of Ireland.

In their final warm-up match before departing for Germany, Portugal defeated the Czech Republic 3-0 on Monday night in Aveiro.

It was the ideal farewell for Roberto Martinez’s team ahead of their June 18 Euro 2024 opening.

In the second half, Ronaldo added to Joao Felix’s first-half goal with two exquisitely placed left-footed goals, his 129th and 130th of his international career.

The first was a fantastic strike into the upper corner, and ten minutes later the captain doubled his total with a tidy finish.

After the match, Ronaldo talked about his aim of competing in Euro 2024 and said he wasn’t sure how long he could stay at the top, but he was savoring every moment.

Ronaldo remarked, “I know I don’t have many years left in football.” “After 35, it’s a gift to play year after year.”At 39, my goal in life is to have fun [every year].

A goal for the national team is a unique experience. My life’s passion is the national team; it would be an incredible dream to win the Euros.

Leading Portugal to their first major prize victory in Europe in 2016, Ronaldo is now preparing for a record-breaking sixth Euros campaign.

“I love and am passionate about playing for the national team,” he continued. “Any game is special, but this will be my sixth European Championship, which is also a record.”

Whether I’m playing now or back in 2004, when I played in my first [European Championship], I always feel proud and passionate.

Nothing compares to this in terms of quality.” Having played the full ninety minutes in his team’s victory on Tuesday, Portugal’s manager Martinez praised his star player.