Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez has lavished praise on Cristiano Ronaldo for his achievements during a stunning career, as the forward prepares to make history at Euro 2024.
As it stands, Ronaldo is level with Spain's legendary goalkeeper Iker Casillas on five European Championship appearances, but he will move out on his own on six when he plays for his national side in Germany.
The 39-year-old's future at international level was in severe doubt after the 2022 World Cup, but Martinez made it clear upon his arrival as manager that the veteran was a key part of his plans.
Ronaldo netted 10 goals during qualification for Euro 2024, and he will enter the tournament off the back of scoring 44 goals and registering 13 assists in 45 appearances for Al-Nassr during the recent season.
Martinez has hailed the forward for his achievements, as Portugal prepare to play one more friendly against the Republic of Ireland before their tournament opener against the Czech Republic on June 18.
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Ronaldo will make history at Euro 2024
"There are not many players who have achieved what he's achieved. He is an example in many ways. To be the only player to reach more than 200 games for your country – that's something that is not going to be achieved easily," Martinez told UEFA's official website.
"What surprised me about Cristiano is that he always defies his age. After every session, the technical staff and I will be amazed that a player who's achieved everything, who could have the choice of what effort he puts in in training, is driven by winning, is obsessed by being the best, is obsessed about that perfection that he wants to achieve in his career. That's contagious.
"Young players, when they come to the national team, are seeing someone who is a person, player or idol that they've been looking up to. His behaviour is beyond belief, and that's something that we need to treasure in Portugal.
"If we can have players like Pepe, like Ronaldo, setting that example, passing [on] that example, they're going to make us better for the next generations to come. That's what Cristiano brings. He's a winner, and he's unique in the way that he sees the game."
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Martinez hails Portugal's mentality
Martinez also said that Portugal's perfect qualification campaign for Euro 2024, which saw them win all 10 of their matches, showed him that the team were capable of challenging for silverware.
"Winning ten games is a consequence of going into every match trying to be perfect with what you are trying to achieve. In the first game [against Liechtenstein], I saw it at half-time," he added.
"I think that's a moment I realised that the group had an incredible capacity to put things in place, to execute aspects that would get individual talent into a level of being a very powerful team.
"And that was the moment, half-time against Liechtenstein. I knew that we had the commitment of a group of players that wanted to do whatever it would take to make the team stronger. And at that point, you know that you can work."
Portugal recorded a 4-2 victory over Finland in their opening warm-up match for Euro 2024 on June 4, but they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Croatia on Saturday night.
Matt Law
