Real Madrid legend Cristiano Ronaldo reached a new landmark during Portugal’s dramatic shootout victory over Slovenia in the Round of 16 at Euro 2024, Soccernet.football reports.
Portugal edged past Slovenia 3-0 on penalties after the two teams played out a goalless draw after extra time, in what is the first shoot-out of this year’s European Championships.
Ronaldo stepped up to score the first of Portugal’s kicks before goalkeeper Diogo Costa stole the limelight by stopping all of Slovenia’s efforts.
With his goal, Ronaldo became the oldest player to score a penalty in a EURO shoot-out, aged 39 years and 147 days.
Ronaldo had the chance to enter the record books earlier in the evening but Slovenian goalkeeper Jan Oblak denied him from the spot during extra time. The Portugal captain would have become the oldest goal scorer at a European Championships if he had found the net.
However, Portugal overcame that setback to set up a quarterfinal clash with 2018 world champions France.
“It was hard, but this is football,” Ronaldo told UEFA. “They defended well, they are very strong, but Portugal won because we played better, had better chances and we deserved to be in the last eight.
“We showed the enthusiasm that we still have to play, to have fun to give joy to the fans and that’s it, this is our life.”
Cristiano Ronaldo and company will now take on France for the third EURO tournament running, having met in the 2016 showpiece and in the group stage of the 2020 edition.
