Cristiano Ronaldo has few heights left to scale and yet another record will fall at his feet when he leads Portugal out against Hungary and becomes the only footballer to appear in five Euros finals.
Ronaldo scored on his first appearance, as a teenager against Greece on home soil in 2004, and led his nation to its greatest footballing triumph in France, five years ago.
By strange twist of fate, having done so much to haul them to final, he was injured, moth-bothered and tearfully demoted to the role of touchline motivator as Portugal won their first major trophy in Paris.
As they prepare for a delayed defence of the title, his influence is as strong as ever ahead of the first fixture of the extraordinarily tough Group F, also featuring France and Germany.
‘I am not overwhelmed by this record,’ said Ronaldo on Monday on the prospect of his fifth Euros. ‘It is a good record but more important than this would to win back-to-back Euros.
‘The team is ready, physically and emotionally. Our players are young but that doesn’t prevent us from dreaming. It is my fifth but for me it’s like my first. I want to play well and have good thoughts from the first to the last match.’
Hungary captain Adam Szalai said on Monday night what many others are thinking: ‘Portugal is much stronger than it was in 2016’.
Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias and Diogo Jota have all emerged while the vast of experience of Ronaldo, Pepe, Joao Moutinho, Rui Patricio and Jose Fonte remains in place.
Fernando Santos remains at the helm and they have another title having won the inaugural UEFA Nations League tournament.
‘As a team we don’t know yet,’ said Ronaldo, playing down expectations. ‘This is a different tournament. It is not the same tournament as 2016. This is a younger team with great potential. Only by playing will we know if it is better or worse.
‘On a personal level, I am not the same player I was 18 years ago, or 10 years ago or five. We keep adjusting and adapting. The most intelligent thing about a footballer is the ability to adjust.
‘I am more mature – and the numbers speak for themselves. From 18 to 36, I have managed to adjust and adapt. I have always been able to win and, on a collective level, be part of a team that has been able to win. I have shown that the key is to adjust all along my career.’
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