Burkina Faso
Indonesia
Lithuania
Montenegro
Nigeria
North Macedonia
United Arab Emirates

Portugal2 - 1Czech Republic

sportsmole.co.uk, 19 June 2024, 10:41
Pepe and Cristiano Ronaldo both made history in Portugal's opening Euro 2024 fixture on Tuesday night.

Ronaldo is chasing a number of European Championship records this summer, and he broke one of those against Czech Republic, having now featured in sixth European Championship finals.

The Al-Nassr forward had been level on five appearances with Spain legend Iker Casillas, but he has now moved out on his own, having featured against Czech Republic.

The 39-year-old, who played the full 90 minutes of his side's 2-1 win, has a number of other records to pursue at the tournament, including oldest player to score and most Golden Boot wins at the competition.

Ronaldo was also seemingly in line to become the oldest outfield player to take to the field at a European Championship, but his teammate Pepe has become the oldest player to feature in the tournament, having also been named in the starting side for Portugal's Euro 2024 opener.

Pepe, Ronaldo make history at Euro 2024

Indeed, Pepe featured against Czech Republic at the age of 41 years and 113 days old, breaking the record which had been held by Gabor Kiraly, who was 40 years and 86 days old when he turned out for Hungary against Belgium in the last-16 stage of Euro 2016.

Before Pepe and Ronaldo, the oldest outfield player to feature in the competition was German legend Lothar Matthaus, who was 39 years and 91 days old on his last appearance at Euro 2020.

There had been question marks over the futures of both Pepe and Ronaldo following the 2022 World Cup, but Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez immediately made it clear that the duo were still key players.

Pepe entered Euro 2024 off the back of making 35 appearances for Porto last season, while Ronaldo scored 44 goals and registered 13 assists in 46 appearances for Al-Nassr last term.

Martinez named a back three against Czech Republic, with Pepe operating alongside Ruben Dias and Nuno Mendes, while Ronaldo was joined by Rafael Leao and Bernardo Silva in the final third of the field.

Portugal are seen as among the favourites for Euro 2024

Francisco Conceicao scored a last-gasp winner to hand Portugal all three points in their Group F opener, with Czech Republic proving to be difficult opposition on Tuesday.

Portugal midfielder Bruno Fernandes also explained the importance of having Ronaldo and Pepe in the squad, as the national side bid to win a second European Championship title this summer.

"We all know it is important to have experienced players by our side," Fernandes told reporters after the match.

"Him and Pepe are probably the most experienced players in this tournament, not only in our team. We know they are big value for us and we know they are going to help us through the tournament."

As it stands, Jens Lehmann is the oldest player to feature in the final of a European Championship, with the former goalkeeper 38 years and 232 days old when he represented Germany against Spain at Euro 2008.

Show more

Top News

25 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk RKC Waalwijk vs. Utrecht (Friday, 5.45pm) FC Utrecht make the trip to RKC Waalwijk on Friday night looking for the victory that will keep the club in the hunt for the top three in the Eredivisie table. 24 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Bournemouth are reportedly interested in signing Real Madrid left-back Fran Garcia this summer. 24 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Hosts Bayern Munich could confirm their status as Bundesliga champions if they beat Mainz 05 at Allianz Arena on Saturday and if Bayer Leverkusen drop points on the weekend. 24 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly in a two-horse race to sign talented Paris Saint-Germain centre-back Axel Tape, who is set to leave Les Parisiens as a free agent this summer. 24 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Second-placed Bayer Leverkusen could lose their Bundesliga crown if they drop points on Saturday at BayArena against visitors Augsburg. 24 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea are reportedly putting together a package worth £68.3m to win the race for highly-rated Serie A forward Kenan Yildiz during the summer transfer window. 24 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk A win for Borussia Dortmund away from home against Hoffenheim on Saturday in the Bundesliga at PreZero Arena would significantly boost their chances of securing European football. 24 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Two teams chasing vastly different goals at opposite ends of the table will square off at Estadio Jose Gomes this weekend, as Porto make the trip to face Estrela Amadora. 24 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly been handed a significant injury boost regarding Ivorian attacker Amad Diallo, who is reportedly on track to resume team training as early as next week. 24 April 2025 talksport.com Wayne Rooney did not hold back after being asked about Sergio Aguero's iconic title-winning goal. 24 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk With qualification for the Champions League potentially at stake, Eintracht Frankfurt will host RB Leipzig at Deutsche Bank Park on Saturday in the Bundesliga. 24 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Plymouth Argyle will look to send their survival bid to the final day of the season when they travel to Deepdale for Saturday's Championship fixture against Preston North End. 24 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Columbus Crew will host San Jose Earthquakes at the Lower.com Field in their gameweek 10 MLS fixture this weekend. 24 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Atlanta United set out in search of their first away win of the 2025 Major League Soccer campaign when they journey to the Inter & Co Stadium to take on Orlando City on Sunday morning. 24 April 2025 talksport.com Jamie Vardy will be leaving Leicester as a Premier League legend - or maybe even the best of the modern era. 24 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Top-eight hopefuls Fulham travel to St Mary's to face already-relegated Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon. 24 April 2025 talksport.com The 2025/26 Champions League is reportedly considering introducing a trio of new regulations in a further revamp of the tournament. 24 April 2025 talksport.com Mark Noble has revealed Michail Antonio is at West Ham's training ground doing gym work as he eyes a return to football. 24 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Nottingham Forest reportedly have a fight on their hands to retain the services of Callum Hudson-Odoi. 24 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly set to meet with Wolverhampton Wanderers next week to discuss Matheus Cunha, with the Red Devils said to be "optimistic" of signing the Brazilian this summer. 24 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Aberdeen and Hibernian will resume their battle to finish as the 'best of the rest' in the Scottish Premiership when they meet at Pittodrie Stadium on Saturday. 24 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich are said to be casting a 'watchful eye' over Andrey Santos's progress with Chelsea's sister club Strasbourg. 24 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea are reportedly ready to offer a new long-term contract to one of their top-performing academy graduates. 24 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly currently working on a deal for Preston North End goalkeeper Freddie Woodman. 24 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Oxford United could secure mathematical safety when they face Sunderland in Saturday's Championship clash at the Kassam Stadium. 24 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk The entourage of Real Madrid attacker Vinicius Junior have apparently denied suggestions that the Brazil international is close to agreeing a new contract with the European champions. 24 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk A week after a stunning 3-0 win over Nacional, relegation-threatened Gil Vicente can take another step towards safety when they host bottom-placed Primeira Liga side SC Farense in Saturday's gameweek 31 contest at Estadio Cidade de Barcelos. 24 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City attacker Oscar Bobb has suffered another injury setback in what has been a frustrating injury-plagued 2024-25 campaign. 24 April 2025 talksport.com Tyrique George's growing reputation may have Chelsea fans fearing the worst already. 24 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United and Nottingham Forest are reportedly the latest clubs to enter the race for Manchester City midfielder James McAtee this summer.