Cristiano Ronaldo currently holds the record for the most goals scored in European Championship history, with a total of 14 goals to his name. His journey as a goal-scorer in the tournament began in 2004, where he netted his first European Championship goal and first international goal for Portugal in a match against Greece. Over the years, Ronaldo continued to add to his tally, scoring vital goals in various editions of the tournament.
At Euro 2008, Ronaldo found the back of the net in a group stage match against Czech Republic. Four years later, he scored twice against Netherlands in the group stage and added the winning goal against Czech Republic in the quarter-finals. His performance at Euro 2016 was notable, with crucial goals in matches against Hungary and Wales. Most recently, at Euro 2020, Ronaldo scored five goals, including braces against Hungary and France.
When it comes to the most goals scored in a single tournament, Michel Platini’s exceptional performance in 1984 stands out. The French playmaker scored a remarkable nine goals as France went on to win the tournament for the first time. Platini’s feat included crucial goals in matches against Denmark, Belgium, and Yugoslavia, showcasing his prowess as a goal-scoring midfielder.
In terms of the golden boot winners throughout the history of the European Championships, various players have claimed the top scorer title in different editions. Notable names include Gerd Muller, Dieter Muller, Alan Shearer, and Antoine Griezmann, each showcasing their goal-scoring talents in the tournament. Cristiano Ronaldo has also claimed the golden boot, most recently at Euro 2020, where he shared the honor with Patrik Schick.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s longevity in the sport has seen him feature in five tournaments, scoring in each of them. His ability to consistently find the back of the net on the European stage has solidified his status as one of the greatest goal scorers in the competition’s history. In terms of goals scored in a final, players like Gerd Muller, Horst Hrubesch, and Oliver Bierhoff have managed to score twice in a final, leading their respective teams to victory.
Michel Platini remains the only player in European Championship history to score more than one hat-trick, achieving the feat in the 1984 edition. The highest-scoring game in the tournament’s history took place in the inaugural match in 1960, as hosts France faced Yugoslavia in a thrilling encounter that ended 5-4 in favor of the Balkan side. Additionally, five teams have won by a five-goal margin in the history of the tournament, with the Netherlands’ 6-1 victory over Yugoslavia in 2000 standing out as the highest-scoring win.
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