Football: Ronaldo now also a record participant in the European Championship – Pepe is the oldest player

Cristiano Ronaldo has added another record to his international football records. The 39-year-old superstar and captain of the Portuguese led the title favourites against the Czech Republic in Leipzig on Tuesday, as expected, and thus made his sixth European Championship appearance perfect.

He first played in a European Championship final 20 years ago. At that time, the Portuguese team was defeated in the final by sensational title holders Greece, coached by German coach Otto Rehhagel.

In 2016, the Portuguese won the European Championship in France, but the five-time world footballer was injured in the final and cheered his teammates on from the sidelines to win the title against the hosts. His appearance against the Czechs was Ronaldo’s 26th at a European Championship finals, no other football player has managed more. Up until the Portuguese’s opening match, he had scored 14 goals, which is also a record.

Together they are over 80 years old

Ronaldo’s long-time national team colleague Pepe set another record. The defender replaced former Hertha goalkeeper legend Gabor Kiraly as the oldest European Championship participant. Pepe was 41 years and 113 days old, making him over a year older than Kiraly when he made his historic appearance until Tuesday. The keeper, whose trademark was baggy grey sweatpants, was 40 years and 86 days old when he last played for Hungary in the round of 16 of the 2016 European Championship (0:4 against Belgium). Pepe and Ronaldo are over 80 years old together.