THEhe five most memorable games for Portugal by footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, world record holder for caps, with 234, and goals, with 146, who today said goodbye to the national team at the age of 41:
‘Hat-trick’ in Sweden that guaranteed qualification for the 2014 World Cup:
In the second leg of the play-off to access the World Cup in Brazil, after Portugal’s 1-0 victory in the first game, Ronaldo scored three more goals in Solna, all in the second half and in just 29 minutes, and all in quick and cool moves, in a frantic 3-2 victory, in a duel with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who scored twice for the Swedes.
At the time, the striker’s usual celebration was ‘I’m here’, before the famous ‘yessss’.
In that game, on November 19, 2013, Cristiano Ronaldo equaled Pauleta as the Portuguese team’s all-time top scorer, with 47 goals, a record he broke shortly afterwards, in March 2014, in a friendly match against Cameroon (5-1), in which he scored a double.
The national coach was Paulo Bento.
The heel against Hungary that prevented Portugal from being eliminated and paved the way to winning Euro2016:
In the last game of the group stage of the European Championship in France, in Lyon, Portugal was at a disadvantage three times, and eliminated from the competition three times, but two goals, the first from a heel, and an assist from Ronaldo made the final 3-3 on the scoreboard against the Hungarians, a result that allowed the national team to continue in the competition as one of the best third-placed teams.
Under the command of Fernando Santos, Portugal would win Euro2016, the greatest achievement in its history to date.
‘Hat-trick’ against Spain and free kick at the start of the 2018 World Cup:
At the start of the World Cup in Russia, in Sochi, Ronaldo produced what is, perhaps, his greatest performance in 234 games for Portugal, giving the ‘quinas’ team an advantage twice, the first by scoring a penalty, and then ending up, in the 88th minute, saving the national team from defeat (3-3), with a free kick that went into the corner of De Gea’s goal, with the ball following an incredible trajectory.
At the time, Ronaldo played in Spain, at Real Madrid, and Fernando Santos remained as national coach.
‘Hat-trick’ that took Portugal to the final and victory in the 2019 Nations League:
After having missed the qualifying phase by choice, Ronaldo made his debut in the Nations League with three goals against Switzerland (3-1), at the Estádio do Dragão, in Porto, deciding the semi-final duel with two stunning shots, in the 88th and 90th minutes, when the tie already seemed to be going to extra time.
In the final, Portugal beat the Netherlands, 1-0, and won the second title in its history, under the command of Fernando Santos.
Two late goals, victory for Portugal and world record in qualifying for Qatar2022:
In the Algarve, in the qualifying phase for the 2022 World Cup, after having missed a penalty, Ronaldo scored in the 89th and 90+6 minutes, both with a header, giving Portugal an unexpected turnaround against Ireland (2-1), becoming the national team’s all-time top scorer, with 111 goals, surpassing the 109 of Iranian legend Ali Daei.
