Perhaps many people aren’t too surprised by this news because everyone understands Ronaldo’s importance to the Portuguese national team. However, let’s think positively about it instead of viewing it as “Ronaldo is the king, who dares to do anything to him”.

Right after the news of Ronaldo being named in the Portugal squad for Euro 2024, opinions have been divided into two camps: those who oppose and those who support. Essentially, everyone is saying Ronaldo is past his prime, and Portugal should just “move on” and pay tribute to him.

Former Chelsea star and member of the French national team, who has won both the EURO and the World Cup, Frank Leboeuf, asserts that Portugal is the strongest contender for the upcoming tournament in Germany, but they will only win if they leave out Ronaldo. Leboeuf’s “suggestion” isn’t entirely wrong because Ronaldo is getting older, and it’s time to make way for younger talent. However, Leboeuf’s perspective is only half right and half wrong.

The point we just made is that Ronaldo is no longer at the peak of European competition and his age now allows him to enjoy time with his son. However, is there anyone who thinks Ronaldo is still not useful? Experience is the first thing that Portugal needs from Ronaldo. Ronaldo has been participating in the Euros since 2004 until now. Thus, Ronaldo will have his 6th Euro in his career (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, and 2024).

The previous record belongs to CR7 himself with 5 Euro appearances in his career. He scored in every Euro he participated in and won it once. There are hardly any players who have been in national team competition since then until now like Ronaldo. Even if there are, they are probably playing in distant places or are not eligible to gather with the national team. Only battle-hardened veteran Pepe could compare with Ronaldo, but he may also play a strategic backup role for his team at the upcoming Euros in Germany.

Secondly, Ronaldo’s instinct for scoring goals is his most frightening attribute. At the age of 39, the former Man Utd star has reached the peak of his form with a goal tally equal to his number of appearances for Al Nassr (48 goals in 48 matches). He is even poised to win the top scorer award in the Saudi Arabian Professional League. If so, Ronaldo will become the first player to win the top scorer award in the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, and Saudi Arabia. More importantly, as we mentioned, it’s his “skills” in scoring goals and diverse finishing abilities that set CR7 apart. How many Portuguese strikers are more reliable than Ronaldo right now? Joao Felix, Diogo Jota, Bernardo Silva are strong in creating opportunities, while Leao and Ramos dominate spaces adequately, but when it comes to scoring goals… not quite.

Take Goncalo Ramos, who is competing for a spot with Ronaldo but hasn’t shown good form this season. A series of misses against Dortmund in the Champions League second-leg semifinal significantly reduced the coach’s trust in the 2001-born player. He has been given too many chances, but his left-footed shots are not effective, and even when he uses his preferred right foot, he often sends the ball over the crossbar. Meanwhile, Ronaldo rarely wastes opportunities. Furthermore, at Ronaldo’s age, he knows how to choose his moments. He knows when to exert himself and when to be more accommodating, and now CR7 can negotiate easier than when he was under 40. Another important point to add to this is Ronaldo’s second-highest goal-scoring record in the EURO 2024 qualifiers, after Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku, despite being surrounded by “wooden legs.”

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, is leadership. You need a captain with a fighting spirit, hunger, and determination to “live for the game” like Ronaldo, not someone who retreats when the going gets tough. With Ronaldo, defeat is not in the vocabulary, and he despises hearing that word. Portugal now needs a leader like that. One thing is certain: Ronaldo will not be a regular starter in this tournament. He will come on at some point during the match, but having a “warrior” by your side in training and during games is the desire of every player and team. Few teams are as fortunate as Portugal to still have Ronaldo.

Portugal doesn’t just have Ronaldo; they also have other formidable players like the all-around midfielder Bruno Fernandes, the solid defensive duo of Dias and António Silva, reliable full-backs like Dalot and Cancelo, and the midfield pair of Palhinha and Rúben Neves. The striker position will be contested between Leão, Ronaldo, and Ramos. The wings are likely to be occupied by Bernardo Silva and Jota. And this is not to mention the quality players on the bench.

Even France or England might not have two squads with equal strength like Portugal. They are also very flexible tactically, with no player being irreplaceable. That’s the unpredictability of the Portuguese national team under Roberto Martinez. With Ronaldo, let’s just enjoy the moment. For one day, when he says goodbye to the national team and the game of football, we will only see Ronaldo through… the internet.