Cristiano Ronaldo's Ageless Brilliance Shines Again for Portugal

Cristiano Ronaldo continues to demonstrate his enduring skill and importance for the Portugal national team. At 39 years old, he netted his 132nd international goal, securing a win against Scotland in the Nations League. Beyond Ronaldo, other football stars like Luka Modric and Fabian Ruiz also showcased their talents in recent matches.

Cristiano Ronaldo is proving why Portugal continues to rely on him at 39 years old.

Extending his record to 132 international goals, the five-time world player of the year came on as a halftime substitute to score an 88th-minute winner for Portugal against Scotland in a 2-1 Nations League victory on Sunday.

Ronaldo, a constant threat in Lisbon, hit both posts in seconds, showing he's still a formidable figure in international soccer, especially against struggling teams like Scotland.

Despite not scoring in five games at the recent European Championship, Portugal's coach Robert Martinez has kept faith in their star player, reaping benefits as Ronaldo netted his 900th career goal in a 2-1 win over Croatia on Thursday.

The quest for 1,000 goals began three days later, with Ronaldo delivering despite only playing one half. A stoppage-time incident saw a spectator attempt to get a selfie with Ronaldo before being stopped by security, reminiscent of scenes at Euro 2024.

Scotland led through Scott McTominay in the seventh minute, with Bruno Fernandes equalizing in the 54th.

Luka Modric, who turns 39 on Monday, remains crucial for Croatia, scoring a sublime free kick for a 1-0 win over Poland. Modric, with 27 goals in 180 appearances, is now Europe's second-highest capped player alongside Sergio Ramos, behind only Ronaldo.

Fabian Ruiz scored twice in Spain's 4-1 win at Switzerland, despite playing with 10 men for most of the match. Spain secured their first win of their Nations League title defense.

Swedish fans paid tribute to the late Sven-Goran Eriksson before their 3-0 win over Estonia, with Viktor Gyokeres and Alexander Isak on target. Denmark also celebrated a Scandinavian victory, beating Serbia 2-0.

(With inputs from agencies.)