In a thrilling conclusion to Group F on Wednesday, Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice to equal the all-time international goalscoring record as Portugal qualified for the last 16 of Euro 2020.
In a 2-2 draw against reigning World Cup champion France in Budapest, the Juventus forward was unnervingly accurate with two penalties.
Ronaldo matched Iran’s Ali Daei’s record of 109 international goals, and with at least one more game at Euro 2020 to come, the 36-year-old could surpass it.
He’s also the top scorer in Euro 2020, with five goals in three games.
Ronaldo now has 14 European championship goals, five more than Michel Platini of France. The first came in the opening game of the 2004 Euros, when Portugal lost 2-1 to Greece.
Between 1993 and 2006, Daei, known as the “Shariar” (King in Persian), scored 109 goals in 149 appearances for Iran.
The other game in Group F, between Germany and Hungary, also ended in a 2-2 draw.
Group F was the final group to be decided in the Euros, and it produced quite a show.
All four teams in the group had a chance to qualify going into the final match, with France in the lead after two wins and a draw.
Portugal stunned Euro 2016 host France five years ago, winning its first major international tournament with a 1-0 victory.
After France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris was adjudged to have punched Danilo Pereira in the penalty box on Wednesday, it was Portugal who scored first, with Ronaldo converting the penalty.
After Nelson Semedo jostled PSG superstar Kylian Mbappe in the Portugal box just before halftime, France was awarded a controversial penalty.
Karim Benzema scored his first goal for France in five years and 258 days, on October 8, 2015.
“I never doubted myself, but I knew there were expectations of me from the country,” Benzema told TF1 afterwards. “I managed to score and I’m going to savour it with everybody.”
Real Madrid’s Benzema scored his second goal of the game two minutes into the second half, slotting home a delicious pass from Paul Pogba, despite VAR ruling Benzema was just onside.
Ronaldo, on the other hand, had the last laugh when he scored from the penalty spot after Jules Koundé was adjudged to have handled the ball.
After an evening of tossing and turning, which included an incredibly exciting game between Germany and Hungary in Munich, the group finished as it had begun the night, with France atop the group, Germany second, and Portugal third.
On Sunday, Portugal will face Belgium, Monday, France will face Switzerland, and Tuesday, Germany will face England.
