<P> In Portugal's first knockout match, Ronaldo's only attempt on goal was parried by Croatia's goalkeeper into the path of Ricardo Quaresma, whose finish then secured a 1--0 victory late in extra time . After his team progressed past Poland on penalties, Ronaldo became the first player to participate in three European Championship semi-finals; he scored the opening goal and assisted a second in a 2--0 win against Wales, equaling Michel Platini as the competition's all - time top scorer with nine goals . In the final against hosts France, Ronaldo was forced off after just 25 minutes following a challenge from Dimitri Payet . After multiple treatments and attempts to play on, he was stretchered off the pitch and replaced by Quaresma . During extra time, substitute Eder scored in the 109th minute to earn Portugal a 1--0 victory . As team captain, Ronaldo later lifted the trophy in celebration of his country's first - ever triumph in a major tournament . He was awarded the Silver Boot as the joint second - highest goalscorer, with three goals and three assists, and was named to the team of the tournament for the third time in his career . </P> <P> Following the Euro 2016 success, Ronaldo scored four goals against Andorra in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers on 8 October 2016 . His four goals against a nine - man team marked the highest number of goals he has scored in an international match . On 13 November, Ronaldo scored two goals (while also missing a penalty) in another qualifier against Latvia, which ended in a 4--1 home victory . These goals brought his international tally to 68 goals, putting level with Gerd Müller and Robbie Keane as the fourth - highest European international goalscorer of all - time . He played his first professional match on his home island of Madeira on 28 March 2017 at age 32, opening a 2--3 friendly defeat to Sweden at the Estádio dos Barreiros . With the goal, he tied with Miroslav Klose on 71 goals as the third - highest scoring European in international football . </P> <P> In Portugal's opening match of the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup against Mexico on 17 June, Cristiano Ronaldo set - up Quaresma's opening goal in a 2--2 draw . Three days later, he scored in a 1--0 win over hosts Russia . On 24 June, he scored from a penalty in a 4--0 win over New Zealand, which saw Portugal top their group and advance to the semi-finals of the competition . With his 75th international goal, Ronaldo also equalled Sándor Kocsis as the second - highest European international goalscorer of all - time, behind only Ferenc Puskás . He was named man of the match in all three of Portugal's group stage matches . Ronaldo left the competition early: after Chile defeated Portugal 3--0 on penalties in the semi-finals, he was allowed to return home to be with his newborn children . Therefore, he missed Portugal's third - place play - off match in which Portugal defeated Mexico 2--1 after extra time . </P> <P> On 31 August 2017, Ronaldo scored a hat - trick in a 5--1 win in a World Cup qualifier over the Faroe Islands, which saw him overtake Pelé and equal Hussein Saeed as the joint - fifth - highest goalscorer in international football with 78 goals . These goals brought his tally in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers to 14, equalling Predrag Mijatović's record for most goals in a single UEFA senior men's qualifying campaign, and also saw him break the record for the most goals scored in a single European qualifying group, overtaking the previous record of 13 goals set by David Healy and Robert Lewandowski . Ronaldo's hat - trick took his World Cup qualifying goals total to 29, making him the highest scorer in European World Cup qualifiers, ahead of Andriy Shevchenko, and the highest goalscorer in World Cup qualifying and finals matches combined, with 32 goals, ahead of Miroslav Klose . Ronaldo later added to this tally by scoring a goal against Andorra in a 2--0 victory . </P>

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