Cristiano Ronaldo has said that he is "happy" and "privileged" as the forward prepares to make a record-breaking sixth appearance at a European Championship this summer.
The 39-year-old scored twice in Portugal's final warm-up fixture for Euro 2024 on Tuesday, with Roberto Martinez's side recording a 3-0 victory over Republic of Ireland.
Ronaldo is set to be involved in Portugal's European Championship opener against the Czech Republic on June 18, and an appearance in that match would see him become the first player to feature in sixth European Championship finals, moving past the legendary Iker Casillas.
The Al-Nassr striker will be chasing a whole host of records at the tournament, including the oldest outfield player to play in the competition, the oldest player to score and the most Golden Boot wins.
There had been uncertainty surrounding his international future after the 2022 World Cup, but the forward remains a vital figure for Portugal under the leadership of Martinez.
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Ronaldo is chasing a number of records at Euro 2024
"I'm proud to be the first player to play in six EURO tournaments. I'm thrilled about it as it shows the longevity of my career. However, it's merely a chapter in what Cristiano Ronaldo has achieved in football," Ronaldo told UEFA's official website.
"I'm happy and I feel privileged to be here to help the national team achieve its goals and, of course, try to go on and win it, which is our primary goal."
Ronaldo also opened up on his own evolution as a player, with the Portuguese still proving to be one of the game's most lethal forwards approaching his 40th birthday.
"Year after year, we're always trying to improve certain things. There's always room for improvement. I think I am a complete player, but there are always things I can perfect," he added.
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Portugal are one of the favourites to win Euro 2024
"And, with age, there are things we weren't so good at in the past, and we start losing some abilities, so it's important to try and adapt.
"That's the key word. If a player wants to have longevity, they need to have a strong adaptability and the characteristics for that adaptation.
"That's what I tried to do. It's no coincidence that I have been playing for 20 years at the highest level, and maintaining that performance is very hard. Only with a lot of dedication and hard work can we achieve those numbers."
Ronaldo has now scored a staggering 130 goals in 207 appearances for Portugal, with his debut for the national side coming almost 21 years ago.
The forward will enter Euro 2024 off the back of a 44-goal season for Al-Nassr, and Martinez now faces a huge decision over whether to start him in Portugal's tournament opener against Czech Republic.
Matt Law
