Portugal star Pepe denies Cristiano Ronaldo from breaking 24-year record as he creates European Championship history
Pepe has become the oldest player in European Championship history, aged 41, to deny Cristiano Ronaldo from breaking a 24-year record.
The Portugal skipper looked to be adding another Euros record to his catalogue in his side's 2-1 Group F opening win against Czech Republic.
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Ronaldo was seemingly in line to become the oldest outfield player at the Euros, which had been set by Lothar Matthaus at Euro 2000.
Matthaus, who won the World Cup in 1990 and European Championship in 1980, was 39 years and 91 days old when he stepped out in Germany's final Group A encounter against Portugal.
And 24 years later, that record has been broken by veteran centre-back Pepe at the age of 41 years and 113 days after being named in Roberto Martinez's line-up at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig.
In doing so, Pepe has also become the tournament's oldest player - breaking goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly's record which he set for Hungary aged 40 and 86 days old against Belgium in 2016.
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And Ronaldo, aged 39 years and 133 days, is now in a battle with Pepe for another Euros record - the oldest goalscorer in the competition's history.
That record is currently held by ex-Austria international Ivica Vastic, who was 38 years and 257 days old when he scored at Euro 2008.
But in positive news for Ronaldo, his appearance against Czech Republic has seen him become the first player to appear in six European Championships.
He had created history at Euro 2020 by being the first player to feature in five finals, before Croatia's Luka Modric equalled him after featuring in Saturday's defeat to Spain.
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But Ronaldo, who has now featured in 11 major tournaments, is now once again the sole record holder.
He has also extended his record of featuring in the most games with 26.
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Ronaldo has found the back of the net in each of his five Euros appearances since Euro 2004 - another record of his own he could extend should he score in a sixth in Germany.
And this would see him add to his record 14 goals at the Euros, with the five-time Champions League winner looking to win back-to-back Golden Boot awards.
Ahead of his nation's first game, he sent a rallying cry to fans to get behind the team as they bid to win another European Championship to follow in their 2016 success. "Today begins another chapter in our history," he posted on Twitter.
"I fondly remember my first day with the national team, a journey full of challenges and victories. Now, I have the honour of being alongside a team of champions, full of talent and determination. With everyone’s strength and support, we turn dreams into reality. Let's, together, fight for another triumph. United, we are unstoppable. Go Portugal."
He drew a blank against Czech Republic, with Ronaldo now hoping for better luck against Turkey on Saturday. Their next opponent's 3-1 in over Georgia meant Portugal's win sent them second in Group F.
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