Manchester United legend Cristiano Ronaldo has still got it, netting a brace to warm up for Euro 2024 in perfect style, getting one over on a familiar face.
While Bruno Fernandes was tearing Finland apart in a friendly last week and winning rave reviews, Cristiano Ronaldo was absent, due to the later finish of the Saudi Pro League season.
In Portugal’s final Euro 2024 warm-up game against Republic of Ireland, Fernandes and Ronaldo resumed their partnership, selected in the same XI and both played 90 minutes.
If there was talk Portugal may be better without Ronaldo, with one pundit suggesting he should be dropped, the 39-year-old forward disproved those worries.
Cristiano Ronaldo scores twice for Portugal
Cristiano Ronaldo is the world’s all-time leading international goalscorer, breaking Ali Daei’s record back in 2021.
Ronaldo broke that record against Ireland, taking his tally to 111. He recently dropped the iconic quote: “‘I don’t follow the records, the records follow me,” and his latest goals underlined that.
His 111th international goal is far in the distance, he scored two goals in this latest 3-0 win over Ireland, his 129th and 130th goals.
Ronaldo attempted four shots at goal, three of which were on target, and two hit the back of the net.
He also created two goalscoring chances, producing the kind of performance to encourage Roberto Martinez to start him in Portugal’s opener.
Ronaldo’s first goal was an unstoppable left footed strike into the top corner from the edge of the box, showing one thing is very clear… he’s still got it.
Full of confidence after 35 goals in 31 league games in Saudi Arabia, Ronaldo will be full of confidence heading into Euro 2024.
Cristiano Ronaldo torments John O’Shea
Manchester United fans had a lot to see after watching Ronaldo fans roll back the years, and Ireland’s manager will have been cursing.
In the dugout for Ireland was caretaker boss John O’Shea, the player he tormented back in 2003 in a friendly when Manchester United played Sporting in Portugal.
It was this friendly match that convinced United to buy Ronaldo, with United’s players telling Sir Alex Ferguson to urgently sign him up.
O’Shea told The Mail a couple of years back: “I’ll always remember the look he gave me before the start of the game. It was about to kick off and he stared me right in the face as if to say, ‘I’m ready for this audition’. When he performed as he did on the night, it was done deal for everybody.”
The Irish full-back became Ronaldo’s teammate, with the pair enjoying success together, culminating with the Champions League in 2008.
But last night the pair were on opposing sides once again, with O’Shea long retired, Ronaldo is still going strong in 2024, heading to an international tournament.
O’Shea could do little to stop Ronaldo leading his side to victory. It is a familiar story for the Irishman, destroyed by the same player 21 years on.