Euro 2024: Why Ronaldo was included in Portugal sqaud – Martinez

By Seyi Babalola

Roberto Martinez, Portugal’s head coach, has justified his choice to put Cristiano Ronaldo in the Euro 2024 team.

Martinez believes the 39-year-old deserves to be at the tournament.

He also emphasized that all players were chosen on merit.

Ronaldo ended as the second-highest goal scorer during the Euro 2024 qualifying campaign with 44 goals across all competitions last season.

“Cristiano is in the national team on merit. Nobody gets into the national team by just having a name. Cristiano scored 50 goals in 51 games – consistent with his club in his league – and he scored [10] goals in our qualification rounds,” Martinez said.

“He’s a goalscorer and, for us, he’s someone who can make that final move. He can stretch defences and open spaces. Over the years, he has changed his way of playing slightly, but I can only say that Cristiano is in the national team on merit and the numbers are there to back that up.”