After finding the net for Portugal against Liechtenstein on Thursday evening, Cristiano Ronaldo drew level with Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku in the battle to be the Euro 2024 group stage qualifiers' top scorer.
For all his gleaming trophies, it is an accolade he's never picked up. But with Portugal playing without a care in the world after long winning Group I, what must surely be the last opportunity of his career is also arguably his best.
Cristiano Ronaldo betting odds – our picks
Ronaldo to outscore Iceland (19/20)
Under the tutelage of Roberto Martinez, CR7 looks utterly timeless. He has scored nine in seven in the EURO 2024 qualifiers, silencing with aplomb the critics who claim he is just a penalty area predator in his old age, as he has played from the right wing in his last three and scored five times.
Ronaldo to score first for Portugal against Iceland (9/5)
Ronaldo opened the scoring in his last appearance against Liechtenstein, and is the bookies’ favourite to repeat the trick against Iceland. Remarkably, nearly a third (42) of his 128 internationals goals to date have been match openers.
Ronaldo to score exactly three times vs Iceland (9/1)
Nobody has scored more hat-tricks on the international stage than Ronaldo. He has scored ten in Portuguese red, and will be hungry for more against Iceland.
Long-term Cristiano Ronaldo markets
Portugal to win EURO 2024 (8/1)
After elimination against Morocco at the 2022 World Cup, many have written off Portugal’s chances at EURO 2024. But led by the resurgent Ronaldo and Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes, they have been quietly outstanding in qualifying, winning nine from nine with a goal difference of +32.
The 8/1 price is longer than those affixed to Germany and Spain, so it represents good value for money by any stretch.
Ronaldo to win 2023/24 Saudi Pro League golden boot (odds-on*)
So far in 2023, only the freakish Erling Haaland (who is 14 years younger) has scored more goals than Ronaldo, despite many writing him off. It has also been argued in many quarters that Ronaldo’s move to Saudi Arabia emboldened other top players to join in summer 2023, including fellow superstar, Neymar.
After a nightmare end to his second spell at Manchester United nearly a year ago, Ronaldo is clearly happy again in the Middle East, and in the 2023/24 Saudi Pro League has scored 13 goals and assisted seven in just 12 games. That puts his chances of finishing as the Saudi Arabian top flight's goal king slightlty north of 50%.
*Specific odds to be confirmed
