The first international break of the season has provided plenty of talking points.
Cristiano Ronaldo has taken his career goal tally beyond 900, Lee Carsley was at the centre of a media storm — for no valid reason — and Scotland lost late, twice.
Here, we summarise the key topics from the weekend just gone.
RONALDO’S RECORD NUMBERS
During Euro 2024, Cristiano Ronaldo’s performances suggested the 39-year-old really should be calling it a day — at least on the international stage.
Ronaldo had 24 shots without scoring at the tournament in Germany, and for all the world looked more a hindrance than a help.
Yet Ronaldo has not retired, and Roberto Martinez selected him yet again for this week’s fixtures against Croatia and Scotland. And fair enough, that faith has been rewarded.
Ronaldo scored his 900th career goal on Thursday, tucking in from close range to put Portugal 2-0 up against Croatia, in an eventual 2-1 victory. And on Sunday, of course, it was Ronaldo who grabbed an 88th-minute winner to break Scottish hearts in Lisbon.
This time, Ronaldo came on from the bench to make his mark, and perhaps that shows Martinez is learning that his superstar captain does not have to start every match.
During his time on the pitch, Ronaldo had four attempts, with his only one on target being the goal — albeit he did hit the woodwork twice.
Ronaldo said on Thursday that records “haunt” him. The question now is, will he stop before he gets to 1,000 goals? Knowing Ronaldo, surely not.
AND THIS BIRD WON’T SING… AND SO WHAT?
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