da wazamba： Jose Mourinho is convinced that Cristiano Ronaldo will not draw a Euro 2024 blank, with the Portugal star backed to enhance his 128-goal record.

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All-time great entering 11th tournamentStill going strong at 39 years of ageReady to lead quest for continental crownWHAT HAPPENED?

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner is the all-time leading scorer in men’s international football. He has earned 206 caps, with a senior debut for his country made all the way back in 2003. Ronaldo is now 39 years of age and approaching an 11th major tournament.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT MOURINHO SAID

He has been showing no sign of slowing down, posting 50 goals for Al-Nassr in the 2023-24 campaign, and Mourinho has told of what to expect from his fellow countryman at another European Championship: “Cristiano is the one who knows how he feels, what his goals are, how the coach wants to use him, whether to play every minute of every game or protect him in key moments. But there’s a lot that goes on inside that gets between them. He has a lot of influence and he will score his goals. I don’t believe he will leave the European Championship without goals.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

With Ronaldo ready to lead the line, having been benched at times during the 2022 World Cup, Mourinho added on which nations he expects to challenge for a continental crown in Germany: “I think practically everyone thinks like me. Portugal, England, France, below them are Germany and Spain.”

Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?

Portugal, who delivered Euros glory for Ronaldo in 2016, have been placed in Group F and will open their campaign under the guidance of Roberto Martinez against the Czech Republic on June 18 – before going on to face Turkey and Georgia.