Cristiano Ronaldo wrapped up the Euro 2024 qualifiers with an impressive record of 10 wins, showcasing his enduring prowess on the field. Although he started and played the entire match in the latest qualifier, the 38-year-old maestro was unable to find the net, narrowly missing out on the title of the tournament’s top scorer. The coveted position was claimed by Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku, who secured four goals in the Azerbaijan match, bringing his total to 14—four more than Ronaldo.

 

In typical fashion, Ronaldo led in shots on goal, with seven attempts, surpassing the second-highest, shared by Joao Felix and Bruno Fernandes, by four. Notably, the striker, currently plying his trade in Saudi Arabia, successfully converted three of these attempts. Ronaldo’s most noteworthy contribution in the match was providing the assist for midfielder Ricardo Horta’s goal, extending Portugal’s lead to 2-0.

 

The encounter witnessed one team dominating the attack, while the other focused on defending. Portugal maintained control of the ball for 74% of the match, launching 23 shots, 11 of which were on target, compared to Iceland’s 9 shots, with 4 on target. Throughout the game, the home team earned 14 corner kicks, while the visiting team received none. Despite Portugal’s dominance, converting opportunities proved challenging. Notably, midfielder Otavio’s attempted cross on the left wing unexpectedly turned into a shot, hitting the inside post’s edge.

 

Bruno Fernandes broke the deadlock at the end of the first half, displaying brilliance as he received a pass from Bernardo Silva, entered the penalty area, and unleashed a diagonal shot to the ground, beating goalkeeper Hakon Valdimarsson. Early in the second half, Ronaldo came close to scoring. Capitalizing on Joao Mario’s cross, the seasoned striker outplayed the Iceland defender in a pressured situation, but his header met Valdimarsson’s gloves.

 

In the 66th minute, after Valdimarsson failed to secure Felix’s shot, Ronaldo made a valiant attempt to score. Although unsuccessful, he directed the ball to Horta’s feet, enabling the new midfielder to find the empty net and double Portugal’s lead.