Cristiano Ronaldo doesn’t appear to have aged a bit, nonetheless charming audiences the world over proper now. The legendary Portuguese participant has proven time and time once more that he excels beneath intense scrutiny by sustaining his standing as a game-changer in huge occasions.
Regardless of lacking a vital penalty within the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals towards Denmark, Ronaldo showcased his trademark resilience, later scoring from open play to assist Portugal overturn a first-leg deficit. His contributions helped Roberto Martinez’s aspect safe a 5-3 mixture victory, establishing a semifinal conflict towards Germany.
Nonetheless, the 40-year-old’s influence extends past simply objectives. His management was evident all through the tie, significantly after Portugal’s first-leg defeat in Copenhagen. Slightly than letting frustration take over, he rallied his teammates for the return leg in Lisbon.
The response was emphatic—a 5-2 extra-time victory, with Francisco Trincao scoring twice off the bench and Ronaldo including his title to the scoresheet. Even after being substituted earlier than further time, the veteran ahead continued to encourage the house crowd because the Seleção das Quinas booked their place within the final 4.
Ronaldo tops the Knockout Stage scoring chart
Together with his purpose towards Denmark, Ronaldo now leads all gamers within the UEFA Nations League knockout rounds. Among the many remaining groups, no participant has been as prolific because the Al-Nassr celebrity.
In distinction, a number of the greatest stars who’re nonetheless energetic within the competitors, together with Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal, have struggled. Regardless of Les Bleus advancing to the decisive stage, Mbappe has failed to attain in all 4 Nations League appearances this marketing campaign. His return to the squad for the primary time in 2025 didn’t end in an improved purpose tally. In the meantime, the Spanish teenager, regardless of enjoying an additional recreation, has only one purpose and one help for Spain.
Whereas Ronaldo stays probably the most harmful attacker among the many ultimate 4 nations, the general prime scorer of the competitors continues to be Viktor Gyokeres. The Swedish striker has loved a sensational marketing campaign, main the rankings forward of a few of Europe’s greatest names.
Can Ronaldo catch Viktor Gyokeres?
Sweden’s Viktor Gyokeres at the moment tops the European Nations League scoring charts with 9 objectives, as per UEFA.com. The Sporting Lisbon striker was in red-hot type in the course of the group stage, scoring in 5 of Sweden’s six matches and offering 5 assists, greater than another participant within the league part.
Norway’s Erling Haaland and Georgia’s Georges Mikautadze sit behind him with seven objectives every, whereas Romania’s Razvan Marin and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo have six. Nonetheless, with Haaland and Mikautadze out of the match, Ronaldo is the highest-scoring energetic participant remaining within the competitors.
RankParticipant titleNationVariety of objectives thus far1.Viktor GyokeresSweden92.Erling HaalandNorway73.Georges MikautadzeGeorgia74.Razvan MarinRomania65.Cristiano RonaldoPortugal66.Kerem AkturkogluTurkiye57.Vedat MuriqiKosovo58.Orri OskarssonIceland59.Benjamin SeskoSlovenia5
As Portugal prepares for a semi-final showdown with Germany, Ronaldo has an opportunity to shut the hole on Gyokeres’ nine-goal tally. If Portugal reaches the ultimate, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner may have two extra matches so as to add to his purpose rely and probably end because the match’s prime scorer.
SurveyCan Ronaldo catch Viktor Gyokeres?
Can Ronaldo catch Viktor Gyokeres?