Cristiano Ronaldo's Career With the Portugal National Team
A historic career: Cristiano Ronaldo went from crying over a lost final in 2004 to lifting three titles with Portugal
His first major competition was Euro 2004, held on Portuguese soil. Then, at 19, he shared a dressing room with some of his idols, scored against Greece and the Netherlands and played the final that the Portuguese surprisingly lost to the Greek side (0-1).
That defeat, which left one of the most remembered images of a young Ronaldo crying on the pitch, was the beginning of a particularly intense relationship between the player and the national team.
Two years later, at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, Portugal reached the semi-finals, where they fell to France, and finished in fourth place. It was also the moment of the generational handover: Figo said goodbye to the team and Ronaldo progressively took over the leadership.
Over the years, the forward went from being an explosive winger to becoming a goalscorer of extraordinary efficiency, a transformation that allowed him to prolong his career to an age unusual in elite football.
The glory of 2016 and the two Nations Leagues
His greatest achievement came on 10 July 2016, when Portugal beat France (1-0) in Paris and won the first European Championship in their history.
That success, achieved under the guidance of Fernando Santos, changed Portugal's place in European football: from habitual contenders they became continental champions.
In 2019, Ronaldo led the conquest of the first Nations League, held in Portugal. His most decisive performance came in the semi-finals, when he scored all three goals in the victory over Switzerland (3-1), before the win against the Netherlands (1-0) in the final.
The third title and the historic record
The third major achievement came in June 2025, now under the orders of Roberto Martínez. Portugal beat Spain in Munich after drawing 2-2 and winning 5-3 on penalties. Ronaldo, at 40 years old, scored the goal for Portugal's second equaliser and helped his country become the first national team to win the Nations League twice.EFE
Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro
Portugal
