Al Nassr forward Cristiano Ronaldo has said he only has a few years left to play after scoring his 129th and 130th senior national team goals as Portugal thrashed Republic of Ireland 3-0 in their final Euro 2024 preparatory match at the Aveiro Municipal Stadium on Tuesday. 

Ex-Chelsea loanee Joao Felix put Euro 2016 champions ahead in the 18th minute after his shot from Bruno Fernandes’ assist was deflected past goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher. Ronaldo was close to doubling it four minutes after his goal but his long range freekick struck the post.

Five minutes after the halftime break, substitute Ruben Neves gave a perfect pass to Ronaldo who was on the right side of the area and controlled the ball to his left foot before firing a curler into the top right corner of the net before scoring another one with his left foot 10 minutes later. 

From the left side of the pitch, Diogo Jota found Ronaldo who was in the box with an uninterrupted pass and the Portuguese captain showed his scoring ability by striking the ball on motion with his left foot to the right side of the net as Kelleher could only watch as the ball rolled in.

Speaking after the game, the 39-year-old said: “I don’t have many years left in football… so, I have to enjoy it”. “I’m in love with football. Every game is special, imagine at the Euros with Portugal, you feel proud… it’s a dream, like when I was 20.”

Euro 2024 begins on June 14 and Portugal is drawn in Group F of the tournament alongside Turkiye, Georgia and Czechia.