June 21, (THEWILL) – Cristiano Ronaldo was at his enduring brilliance again on his 200th international appearance for Portugal, scoring a decisive goal in the 89th minute to propel Portugal to a 1-0 victory over Iceland in their Euro 2024 qualifier on Tuesday.
The 38-year-old striker, who extended his record for the most international caps by a male player, confidently guided the ball into the net from close range, marking his 123rd goal for Portugal. The milestone was commemorated with a bouquet of flowers and a certificate, adding to the countless records amassed by the former Real Madrid and Manchester United star.
Despite failing to find the net in Portugal’s previous 3-0 triumph over Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ronaldo once again silenced sceptics, who questioned Coach Roberto Martinez’s decision to include him in the squad. The winning goal came after Iceland’s Willum Thor Willumsson received a red card, reducing them to 10 men.
Goncalo Inacio provided the assist as he delivered a well-placed pass to Ronaldo, who promptly turned it home in the 89th minute. Initially ruled out for offside, the goal was ultimately allowed, leading to joyous celebrations as Ronaldo was embraced by his teammates.
With this victory, Portugal maintains their flawless start to the Euro 2024 qualifying campaign, holding a two-point lead over Slovakia at the summit of Group J. Slovakia, who will be Portugal’s next opponents in September, secured a 1-0 away win against Liechtenstein, extending their unbeaten run.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
