Cristiano Ronaldo is a name that reverberates across stadiums worldwide. But the all-time highest goal scorer in international football was notably absent as Portugal orchestrated a breathtaking 9-0 victory against Luxembourg in the Euro 2024 qualifying match at Estadio Algarve on Monday. It was Portugal’s biggest-ever win in a competitive international football match as they preserved their perfect record in Euro 2024 qualifiers. However, Cristiano Ronaldo’s absence left fans and pundits questioning whether this extraordinary win was merely a consequence of his suspension. And his teammate came to his defense.

As the victory celebrations rang out, the criticism also came as usual regarding whether Ronaldo’s absence was a boon for his team. One of his teammates stood tall to defend the Portuguese superstar’s absence amid his criticism and absence.

Teammate defends Cristiano Ronaldo’s absence as Portugal chalk up record win

Portugal put on a dominant display in their recent outing against Luxembourg, as Roberto Martinez’s men thrashed 9 goals without conceding against their opposition. The win was Portugal’s biggest ever in a competitive match, and it came without their talismanic captain, who has scored 117 goals for his country. Yet, amidst the euphoria of Portugal’s record-breaking win, questions naturally arose about the impact of Cristiano Ronaldo’s absence. Would the scoreline have been equally emphatic if the Al Nassr forward himself had graced the pitch?

As reported by O Jogo, Ronaldo’s Portuguese teammate and PSG midfielder, Danilo Pereira was quick to address the doubts surrounding CR7. Pereira stepped up to defend Ronaldo’s absence, deflecting any doubts about his influence on the outcome.

“If Cristiano Ronaldo were here, the result would also be like this. He would help with goals and assists. It was not because of his lack that this game was won by 8 or 9 goals,” Pereira asserted confidently.

The suspension of Cristiano Ronaldo was a consequence of accumulated yellow cards in his previous Euro qualifying matches. It is also worth noting that Luxembourg holds a unique place in Ronaldo’s illustrious career, as he has bagged a total of 11 goals against them, more than any other country.

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However, Ronaldo’s absence was not felt as Portugal scored freely against a Luxembourg side that was overwhelmed by the quality of Portuguese players.

Portugal looking strong ahead of EURO 2024

Portugal’s record victory against Luxembourg showed that they are a team that can win without Cristiano Ronaldo. Although the Al-Nassr talismanic forward is Portugal’s all-time leading scorer, Roberto Martinez’s men displayed that they can function well without Ronaldo as well. With young players like Goncalo Ramos, Diogo Jota, and Rafael Leao shining for Portugal, they surely look like a force to be reckoned.

Portugal is yet to concede a goal in their EURO qualifying campaign, and they are sitting at the top of Group J with 18 points under their belt. They’re currently five points clear of Slovakia, and it seems like it’s only a matter of time before they book their trip to Germany next summer.

Looking at the level of quality and depth in the vibrant Portuguese squad, they are among the real contenders for the EURO 2024 trophy. As the qualifying campaign progresses, the footballing world eagerly awaits Ronaldo’s return, knowing that his presence is a game-changer.

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Portugal will continue their EURO qualifying campaign once again when they host Slovakia next month at Estadio do Dragao.