Despite turning 39 in February, Cristiano Ronaldo continues to defy age and maintain his prolific goal-scoring form. Ending 2023 as the top male goalscorer globally with 54 goals, Ronaldo remains a vital asset for both club and country. However, his Portugal teammate Joao Cancelo emphasized that while Ronaldo is crucial, the national team is not solely reliant on him.

Cancelo highlighted Ronaldo’s importance but pointed out that footballers typically peak between the ages of 25 and 32. Nonetheless, Ronaldo’s influence extends beyond his on-field performance, bringing leadership and experience to the team.

He told Portuguese network RTP: “He is an important player and spent 15 years competing with Messi for the Ballon d’Or, but the peak of a footballer’s career is between the ages of 25 and 32. He is an important player for us, but the national team does not depend entirely on him.”

As Portugal gears up for Euro 2024, Ronaldo is expected to play a significant role despite being past his peak years. His impressive goal-scoring record in the qualifiers, outscoring the likes of Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe, underscores his enduring impact. However, manager Roberto Martinez also has a wealth of attacking talent at his disposal, including Bruno Fernandes, Goncalo Ramos, Joao Felix, Bernardo Silva, and Rafael Leao.

Both Ronaldo and Cancelo have been rested for Portugal’s upcoming friendly against Sweden, allowing them to recharge before returning to the squad for the subsequent match against Slovenia. As Portugal aims for success in the summer tournament, Ronaldo’s leadership and goal-scoring prowess will undoubtedly be key factors in their campaign.