While he has been unable to win the World Cup, Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo has made the European Championship his own as part of an incredible international career.
As well as winning the tournament with his country in 2016, Ronaldo has set a host of individual records at the tournament.
Ronaldo is set to make his sixth tournament appearance at a Euros at the age of 39 in Germany.
Regardless of what happens this summer, many of Ronaldo’s Euros stats already look like they will be tough for any player in future generations to beat.
Most Euros Goals
Ronaldo has scored 14 career goals in the Euros, which is five more than any other player has achieved, with France great Michel Platini second on the all-time scoring list with nine and no other player scoring more than seven.
The Portugal great was a young winger at Manchester United when he made his first appearance at a Euros finals tournament in 2004 and it did not take long for him to establish himself as a leading goalscorer.
He impressed at Euro 2004, which was held on home soil, scoring in matches against Greece and the Netherlands, as well as helping his side to an epic quarter-final win over England on penalties.
There was heartbreak for Portugal when they suffered a stunning defeat to underdogs Greece in the final, narrowly missing out on becoming champions of Europe, but Ronaldo was named in UEFA’s team of the tournament.
Ronaldo was Portugal captain four years later but Euro 2008 was the least impactful tournament he’s had, with his team exiting in the last eight against Germany. There was still time for a standout performance, though, as Ronaldo scored once and set up two more in a group-stage win over Czechia.
At a time when he was at the peak of his powers for Real Madrid, the Euro 2012 tournament saw Ronaldo back on song.
Portugal emerged from a group of death, helped by Ronaldo’s double against the Netherlands, and he also scored in a quarter-final win against Czechia to secure a share of the Golden Boot that year.
However, there was more Euros heartbreak as Spain knocked his team out on penalties in the semi-finals, with controversy over Ronaldo not taking a penalty in the shootout – he was earmarked to take the fifth spot-kick, but ultimately did not get the opportunity to take one.
At the start of Euro 2016, it did not look like Ronaldo was primed to make history. He did not score in either of the first two group matches and missed a penalty against Austria.
However, he did net twice in a thrilling 3-3 draw with Hungary and then led Portugal all the way to the final, netting against Wales in the last four, a strike that took him level with Platini’s previous goal record.
Ronaldo was injured early in the Euro 2016 final against France and had to be replaced in the first half, but his emotion was there for all to see as his teammates eventually got Portugal over the line without him, courtesy of an extra-time goal from Eder. It was Ronaldo who lifted the trophy and he was named in the team of the tournament for a third time.
As Ronaldo prepared to leave Juventus and return to Man Utd, Portugal’s title defence at Euro 2020 – an event held one year later than planned in 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic – did not go as he would have hoped, despite them having also won the UEFA Nations League.
The holders were dumped out by Belgium in the last 16, but Ronaldo still enjoyed a magnificent individual tournament, scoring five goals in four games to secure what is surely his most coveted record – the all-time top European Championship scorer.
He thrived in the group stage, scoring twice against Hungary to surpass Platini’s record and become the oldest player to score twice in a Euros match.
Ronaldo then netted two more in a draw with France and added a goal and an assist in a dramatic 4-2 loss to Germany.
All of that means the Al-Nassr forward holds a swathe of goal records at the Euros.
As well as the most goals (14) overall, Ronaldo has the most Euros matches with a goal (10) and the most tournament games (four) with at least two goals scored.
Ronaldo is also the only player to score at least three goals at three separate Euro tournaments and is also the man to beat in the record for most events with at least two goals scored (four tournaments). He also holds the record for scoring in the most tournaments (five), with no other player scoring a goal in more than three Euro editions.
The all-time Euros top scorer also has 41 career goals in Euros qualifying, a record, which means he also holds the combined leading mark for the most European Championships goals including qualifiers (55).
Cristiano Ronaldo Euros Records and Stats
As well as his goal statistics, Ronaldo has racked up a host of other impressive achievements at the European Championships for his national team.
The Portuguese already holds the leading mark for appearing at the most tournaments (five), a record the Saudi Pro League star is set to extend this year at UEFA Euro 2024.
Ronaldo has made the most match appearances (25) in Euros history – racking up a record total of 2,155 minutes on the pitch – and has won more games (12) than any other player in the competition.
In addition to having the most goals and tournament apps, the forward has represented his country as captain 16 times in the finals, also a Euros record, while he has been selected in the Team of the Tournament three times despite surprisingly missing out at Euro 2020.
