Cristiano Ronaldo’s EURO records
Cristiano Ronaldo’s EURO records showcase just how dominant a force the Portugal captain has been in European Championship history. With his performances spanning five editions of the tournament so far, Ronaldo has smashed numerous goalscoring and appearance records at the EUROs.
In the realm of football, Cristiano Ronaldo stands as a towering figure, an icon whose name is synonymous with unparalleled skill, unwavering determination, and an insatiable hunger for success. His achievements on the pitch are legendary, and his impact on the game is undeniable.
Among his many accolades, Cristiano Ronaldo’s EURO records hold a special place, showcasing his dominance in the European Championship, one of the most prestigious international tournaments in football.
Here are the EURO records he has broken, as well as the ones he could break if he plays at UEFA EURO 2024.
What EURO records does Ronaldo hold?
Most finals goals
Ronaldo scored his first goal for Portugal on his EURO debut against Greece on June 12, 2004. He went on to score a total of nine goals in UEFA EURO 2016, matching Michel Platini’s record. Ronaldo then set a new record by scoring five more goals in UEFA EURO 2020.
| Player | Country | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal | 14 |
| Michel Platini | France | 9 |
| Alan Shearer | England | 7 |
| Antoine Griezmann | France | 7 |
| Ruud van Nistelrooy | Netherlands | 6 |
| Patrick Kluivert | Netherlands | 6 |
| Wayne Rooney | England | 6 |
| Thierry Henry | France | 6 |
| Zlatan Ibrahimović | Sweden | 6 |
| Nuno Gomes | Portugal | 6 |
Most EURO final tournaments
A total of 22 players had featured in four different EURO tournaments, with Ronaldo being the only one to have participated in five.
| Player | Country | Number of Appearances | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal | 5 | 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020 |
| Lothar Matthäus | West Germany/Germany | 4 | 1980, 1984, 1988, 2000 |
| Peter Schmeichel | Denmark | 4 | 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000 |
| Alessandro Del Piero | Italy | 4 | 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 |
| Edwin van der Sar | Netherlands | 4 | 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 |
| Lilian Thuram | France | 4 | 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 |
| Olof Mellberg | Sweden | 4 | 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012 |
| Gianluigi Buffon | Italy | 4 | 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016 |
| Petr Čech | Czech Republic | 4 | 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016 |
| Zlatan Ibrahimović | Sweden | 4 | 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016 |
| Andreas Isaksson | Sweden | 4 | 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016 |
| Kim Källström | Sweden | 4 | 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016 |
| Jaroslav Plašil | Czech Republic | 4 | 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016 |
| Lukas Podolski | Germany | 4 | 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016 |
| Tomáš Rosický | Czech Republic | 4 | 2000, 2004, 2012, 2016 |
| Bastian Schweinsteiger | Germany | 4 | 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016 |
| Darijo Srna | Croatia | 4 | 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016 |
| Giorgio Chiellini | Italy | 4 | 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020 |
| Sebastian Larsson | Sweden | 4 | 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020 |
| Luka Modrić | Croatia | 4 | 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020 |
| João Moutinho | Portugal | 4 | 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020 |
| Pepe | Portugal | 4 | 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020 |
Most finals appearances
Ronaldo missed only one match in his nation’s last five EUROs. He sat out Portugal’s final group game against Switzerland in 2008, with his side already through. His nearest rivals are international team-mates João Moutinho and Pepe.
| Player | Country | Appearances |
|---|---|---|
| Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal | 25 |
| João Moutinho | Portugal | 19 |
| Pepe | Portugal | 19 |
Most EURO final tournaments scored in
Ronaldo scored two goals at EURO 2004, one in 2008, three in both 2012 and 2016, and five in 2020, making him the only player to score three or more goals in five different EURO tournaments.
Most appearances (including qualifying)
Ronaldo has played 60 games in EURO competition, qualifying, and finals, surpassing Buffon’s previous record of 58. He has won 37 games, drawn 13, and lost 10.
| Player | Nationality | Appearances |
|---|---|---|
| Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal | 64 |
| Gianluigi Buffon | Italy | 58 |
| Luka Modrić | Croatia | 53 |
| Mario Frick | Liechtenstein | 51 |
Most goals including qualifying
If Ronaldo dominates a league of his own for the previous category, then in this one, he’s on another planet. He has scored 50 goals in EURO qualifying and finals, which is more than the combined total of the next two players.
| Player | Country | Appearances |
|---|---|---|
| Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal | 50 |
| Zlatan Ibrahimović | Sweden | 25 |
| Robbie Keane | Republic of Ireland | 23 |
UEFA EURO 2024, anybody?
Ronaldo will be 39 when EURO 2024 comes around. Would you bet against him being in Germany for it? If he is, these records will be up for grabs:
Oldest EURO scorer
38 years 257 days Ivica Vastic (Austria, 2008)
Oldest scorer in a final
34 years 71 days Leonardo Bonucci (Italy, 2020)
Oldest outfield player to feature at EURO
39 years 91 days Lothar Matthäus (Germany, 2000)
Oldest player to feature in EURO final
38 years 232 days Jens Lehmann (Germany, 2008)
Oldest player to win EURO
37 years 23 days Arnold Mühren (Netherlands, 1988)
UEFA EURO 2024: Can Cristiano Ronaldo Break These Records?
| Record | Current Holder | Age | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oldest EURO scorer | Ivica Vastic (Austria) | 38 years, 257 days | 2008 |
| Oldest scorer in a final | Leonardo Bonucci (Italy) | 34 years, 71 days | 2020 |
| Oldest outfield player to feature at EURO | Lothar Matthäus (Germany) | 39 years, 91 days | 2000 |
| Oldest player to feature in EURO final | Jens Lehmann (Germany) | 38 years, 232 days | 2008 |
| Oldest player to win EURO | Arnold Mühren (Netherlands) | 37 years, 23 days | 1988 |
Multiple EURO-winning captains
If Portugal wins in Germany with Ronaldo as captain, he will match Iker Casillas as the only player to lead teams to two EURO victories.
Ronaldo’s EURO finals match log
| Date | Opposition | Score | WLD | Goals | Stage |
| 12/06/2004 | Greece | 1–2 | L | 1 | Group |
| 16/06/2004 | Russia | 2–0 | W | Group | |
| 20/06/2004 | Spain | 1–0 | W | Group | |
| 24/06/2004 | England | 2–2 (W on pens) | W | Quarter-finals | |
| 30/06/2004 | Netherlands | 2–1 | W | 1 | Semi-finals |
| 04/07/2004 | Greece | 0–1 | L | Final | |
| 07/06/2008 | Turkey | 2–0 | W | Group | |
| 11/06/2008 | Czech Republic | 3–1 | W | 1 | Group |
| 19/06/2008 | Germany | 2–3 | L | Quarter-finals | |
| 09/06/2012 | Germany | 0–1 | L | Group | |
| 13/06/2012 | Denmark | 3–2 | W | Group | |
| 17/06/2012 | Netherlands | 2–1 | W | 2 | Group |
| 21/06/2012 | Czech Republic | 1–0 | W | 1 | Quarter-finals |
| 27/06/2012 | Spain | 0–0 (L on pens) | L | Semi-finals | |
| 14/06/2016 | Iceland | 1–1 | D | Group | |
| 18/06/2016 | Austria | 0–0 | D | Group | |
| 22/06/2016 | Hungary | 3–3 | D | 2 | Group |
| 25/06/2016 | Croatia | 1–0 | W | Round of 16 | |
| 30/06/2016 | Poland | 1–1 (W on pens) | W | Quarter-finals | |
| 06/07/2016 | Wales | 2–0 | W | 1 | Semi-finals |
| 10/07/2016 | France | 1–0 | W | Final | |
| 15/06/2021 | Hungary | 3-0 | W | 2 | Group |
| 19/06/2021 | Germany | 2-4 | L | 1 | Group |
| 23/06/2021 | France | 2-2 | D | 2 | Group |
| 27/06/2021 | Belgium | 0-1 | L | Round of 16 |
