Ronaldo scored twice to become the European Championship’s all-time top scorer.
Cristiano Ronaldo became the all-time top scorer at the European Championships after two goals in the dying minutes helped Portugal defenders beat Hungary 3-0 in their Group F opener on Tuesday.
Ronaldo now has 11 goals in the competition, taking sole possession of the record he previously shared with Frenchman Michel Platini out of nine.
Portugal broke the deadlock in a game they dominated with a Ronaldo penalty. A second effort was added to the final score, which was tough for Hungary, who worked hard in front of a crowded Puskas Arena in Budapest – the only stadium to be filled to capacity at the Euro due to the pandemic of coronavirus.
Ronaldo then put his name in the record books with an on-site goal after Willi Orban fouled Rafa Silva in the box.
Cristiano Ronaldo
⚽️ All-time EURO top scorer (11 goals)
🇵🇹 All-time top scorer for Portugal (106 goals)
👕 First player to participate in 5 EURO final tournaments
👏 First player to score in 5 consecutive EURO finals # EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/rjJ7C5iXo1– UEFA EURO 2020 (@ EURO2020) June 15, 2021
The Portuguese superstar then scored his 106th for Portugal and closed the gap to Iranian Ali Daei’s record (109) for all-time top men’s international scorer.
“It was important to win, it was a tough game,” said Ronaldo. “I’m grateful to the team for helping me score two goals and be the man of the match. Now we must continue.
Portugal now lead Group F or the so-called ‘death group’ on goal difference after world champions France beat Germany 1-0.
Didier Deschamps’ men gave a gloomy-looking Germany their first defeat in the opening match of the Euro, thanks to a goal against their side of Mats Hummels in the 20th minute.
Statistics showed France had just over 40% possession and just four attempts on goal, but Deschamps said they were more clinical than Joachim Low’s side.
“I wouldn’t say we dominated them because we played against a good team in Germany which gave us problems,” said Deschamps.
“They had a lot of ball possession, more than us. We defended very well. It was a game played at a very high level, two titans clashing.
France had two goals ruled out for offside in the second half.
Kylian Mbappe sent a curling shot inside the far post mid-half, then set up Karim Benzema for another late in the game.
Benzema was playing his first competitive game for France since a World Cup quarter-final loss to Germany in 2014.
Mbappe also had a penalty appeal between offside goals – Hummels timed his tackle perfectly as the 22-year-old Frenchman was reportedly on goal.
