Cristiano Ronaldo celebrated becoming the most-capped men s player of all time with a double as Portugal thrashed Liechtenstein 4-0 in Roberto Martinez s first game.
Ronaldo scored just once at last year s World Cup, and there had been doubts over whether he would return for Portugal s Euro 2024 qualification campaign.
But having been named as captain in Martinez s starting XI for Thursday s match at Estadio Jose Alvalade, Ronaldo scored twice in the space of 12 minutes – a cool penalty followed by a wicked free-kick – to help cap an emphatic win and mark his record appearance in style.
Ronaldo s goals followed strikes from Joao Cancelo and Bernardo Silva as Portugal got off to the simplest of starts in Group J.
Take a bow,
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024)
Liechtenstein s resistance lasted just eight minutes. The visitors failed to clear their lines following Bruno Fernandes corner, and Cancelo s deflected strike from the edge of the area squirmed under Benjamin Buchel.
Ronaldo squandered two golden opportunities to extend Portugal s lead, firing over when one-on-one with Buchel before sending a free header wide.
Portugal s wait for a second ended 68 seconds after the restart, Silva on hand to tuck home after a cross was blocked into his path, and Ronaldo had his goal four minutes later.
Jens Hofer clumsily felled Cancelo, with Ronaldo drilling the resultant penalty into the bottom-left corner.
The offside flag cut Ronaldo s celebrations short when he prodded in from close range, but a superb 63rd-minute free-kick had too much power on it for Buchel.
There was no hat-trick for Ronaldo, who made way in the 78th minute, with the job done for new boss Martinez.