Burkina Faso
Friendly Games
Indonesia
Lithuania
Montenegro
Nigeria
North Macedonia

Portugal3 - 0Rep. Ireland

sportsmole.co.uk, 12 June 2024, 17:10
Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez paid tribute to "unbelievable" Cristiano Ronaldo following the attacker's two-goal performance against Republic of Ireland on Tuesday night.

The 39-year-old did not feature against either Finland on June 4 or Croatia on June 8, but he played the full 90 minutes of Tuesday's friendly with Republic of Ireland and netted twice in a 3-0 success for the national side.

Martinez was full of praise for the Al-Nassr striker after the contest, with the veteran moving onto 130 goals in 207 appearances at international level.

Joao Felix sent the hosts ahead in the 18th minute of the contest in Aveiro, before Ronaldo registered twice in the space of 10 second-half minutes.

"His commitment as captain is unbelievable. Today we saw two world-class goals, but I really enjoyed his work," Martinez told reporters after the contest.

Portugal win final friendly ahead of Euro 2024

"He had already scored two goals, but his first option was to assist a teammate. That shows solidarity and companionship, and they are important values in a dressing room when you're going to the Euros.

"But also goals are very important and they were excellent."

Ronaldo also addressed his future after the clash, as he prepares to take part in an 11th major international tournament during what has been a stunning career.

"I know I don't have many years of football left," Ronaldo said. "It's a gift to play year after year, after 35. I'm 39 and every year is about enjoying [myself]. To score for the national team is special. The national team is the love of my life, winning the Euros would be a dream.

Portugal bidding to win a second European Championship

"For me, playing for the national team is a passion, a love. Any game is special, a European Championship is special, it will be my sixth, which is also a record.

"Playing in 2004, when I made my [European Championship] debut, or playing today, the feeling is always of pride and passion. It doesn't get any better than this."

Portugal famously won the European Championship in 2016, and they will be going in search of their second title at the competition this summer.

Martinez's side will begin their Group F campaign against Czech Republic on June 18, while they will also take on Turkey (June 22) and Georgia (June 26) in the group stage of the competition.

Portugal won all 10 of their qualification fixtures for Euro 2024, with the national team's last competitive defeat proving to be a 1-0 loss to Morocco at the 2022 World Cup.

Show more

Top News

11 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk All transfer business is done and dusted for this season, but that doesn't stop clubs from preparing ahead for next season. 11 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool will have conducted significant business in the transfer window by the time their title defence in 2025-26 gets underway, Reds expert David Lynch has insisted. 11 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Sivasspor vs. Bodrumspor (Sunday, 2.00pm) A high-stakes relegation survival battle takes place in the Turkish Super Lig this weekend when Sivasspor hosts Bodrumspor on Sunday. 11 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk PEC Zwolle vs. Go Ahead Eagles (Sunday, 11.15am) Aiming to end a five-match league winless run and crack the top six of the Eredivisie table, Go Ahead Eagles will travel to take on PEC Zwolle on Sunday. 11 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Leganes vs. Espanyol (Sunday, 1.00pm) Leganes' battle to move out of the La Liga relegation zone will continue on Sunday afternoon, when they welcome Espanyol to Estadio Municipal de Butarque. 11 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Udinese vs. Monza (Sunday, 11.30am) Fresh from seeing their relegation confirmed last week, Monza visit mid-table Udinese for Serie A's Sunday lunchtime kickoff. 11 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk B. Leverkusen vs. Dortmund (Sunday, 2.30pm) Dethroned Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen will welcome Borussia Dortmund to BayArena on Sunday in their second last match of the season. 10 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Mohamed Salah has hinted that his main target for next season will be to win the Champions League following Liverpool's domestic success. 10 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal are reported to have made an opening offer for Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres as they look to build a title-winning side. 10 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly braced for approaches for Bruno Fernandes from Al-Hilal despite Ruben Amorim's insistence that the captain is not for sale. 10 May 2025 talksport.com Notts County's League One promotion hopes took a major blow having been defeated by AFC Wimbledon - with star man Alassana Jatta adding to their woes. 10 May 2025 talksport.com Harry Kane was front and centre of celebrations at the Allianz Arena as Bayern Munich lifted the Bundesliga trophy. 10 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Ollie Watkins scored the only goal of the match as Aston Villa recorded a 1-0 victory over Bournemouth in Saturday's Premier League clash at the Vitality Stadium. 10 May 2025 talksport.com Unai Emery's tactics often leaves rival clubs puzzled - and his pre-match interview had the same effect ahead of Aston Villa's clash at Bournemouth. 10 May 2025 talksport.com Southampton have been branded as 'embarrassing' by talkSPORT's Jamie O'Hara following their post-match antics against Manchester City. 10 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta must take one particular lesson from Liverpool counterpart Arne Slot as the pair prepare to meet in Sunday's headline Premier League battle at Anfield. 10 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Fabian Hurzeler's Brighton & Hove Albion took one step closer to a top-half finish in the Premier League by beating Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-0 at Molineux on Saturday afternoon. 10 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid have confirmed their squad for Sunday's La Liga clash against Barcelona, with Rodrygo returning following an illness, but six players are on the sidelines through injuries. 10 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have experienced more success against the best sides with Luis Diaz starting as a number nine, and he has done enough to have earned his place against Arsenal, Reds expert David Lynch has argued. 10 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Cristiano Ronaldo could reportedly complete a spectacular return to Sporting Lisbon this summer, with the legendary forward viewed as a potential replacement for Viktor Gyokeres. 10 May 2025 talksport.com Celtic legend Scott Brown has raised question marks over his own managerial future at Ayr United after their promotion hopes were ended. 10 May 2025 talksport.com Gary Lineker has detailed his job offers from television companies as he prepares to leave Match of the Day. 10 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Brentford emerged as 1-0 victors against Ipswich Town on Saturday afternoon at Portman Road in the Premier League, keeping their European hopes alive. 10 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Everton came from behind to record a 3-1 victory over Fulham in Saturday afternoon's Premier League contest at Craven Cottage. 10 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City missed the chance to move level on points with second-placed Arsenal as they were held to a goalless draw by a spirited Southampton side at St Mary's in the Premier League. 10 May 2025 talksport.com Mikel Arteta loves unusual methods to get ahead of his rivals, so there's no doubt at all the Arsenal manager is all over AI. 10 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk A top-of-the-table clash with nothing serious at stake for the league leaders, Liverpool host Arsenal at Anfield on Sunday afternoon, in the main event of Premier League gameweek 36. 10 May 2025 talksport.com Chelsea have become the first Women's Super League team to go unbeaten across a 22-game season. 10 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Bournemouth and Aston Villa have announced their starting lineups for Saturday's Premier League game. 10 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City could reportedly be handed a boost in their Morgan Gibbs-White transfer mission by Liverpool, as Nottingham Forest have identified a Reds man as a possible successor to the Englishman.