Portugal v Wales: Cristiano Ronaldo v Gareth Bale
Monday, July 4, 2016
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Real Madrid team-mates Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale come face to face when Portugal and Wales meet in Lyon – EURO2016.com looks at the facts and hears from those who know them best.
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Cristiano Ronaldo
Portugal appearances: 131 (record)
Goals: 60 (record)
Debut: 20/08/03 v Kazakhstan, aged 18 (friendly)
First goal: 13/06/04 v Greece, aged 19 (UEFA EURO 2004)
On UEFA EURO 2016
"The dream is getting nearer and anything can happen now. I don't feel I'm missing any honours and even if my career finished today I would feel privileged. But I've never hid the fact I would love to win a trophy with the national team. We're on the right track."
Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson
"He has everything. He can shoot with both feet, head the ball, he's as brave as a lion. During my time at Manchester United I was lucky enough to have a lot of people who put in countless extra hours to get better, but Ronaldo used to completely exhaust himself. He just wanted to be the best in the world."
Former Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti
"Ronaldo cared about the team. He liked to be with his team-mates after the game and talk through what had happened – what had gone well, what had been not so good. He is a pleasure to manage."
Former United team-mate Gary Neville
"We had a player who was beyond a level of talent I had ever seen. He would go and win us game after game. Now he is a monster. He is in the same bracket as Messi and you can put them both up there with Pelé and Maradona."
Gareth Bale
Wales appearances: 60
Goals: 22
Debut: 27/05/06 v Trinidad and Tobago, aged 16 (friendly)
First goal: 07/10/06 v Slovakia, aged 17 (EURO qualifier)
On playing for his country
"When we put on the shirt there is no bigger honour for us. You could see when we sang the national anthem before Slovakia, everyone was gripping each other, there were goosebumps and everyone was crying on the pitch after. That is just Wales. We play for the shirt and for the dragon. We give everything we've got."
Former Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti
"When some players arrive at Real Madrid they ask themselves: 'Do I belong here?' Not with Gareth. He looked at home from the first time the ball reached his toes."
Wales captain Ashley Williams
"I wouldn't swap Gareth for anyone. He's unbelievable. What you see on the pitch is good enough but for me, as captain, to have him in the group is a pleasure because of how he conducts himself around the camp and the way he helps everybody."
Former Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp
"He has the most amazing physique, talent and strength. He is also a nice lad and was never a minute's problem. He makes things look easy, his pace is frightening. His acceleration is unbelievable because of his ability to go through the gears in very little space."