Cristiano Ronaldo said Portugal's current generation of players deserve to win Euro 2024.
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes, Paris Saint-Germain's Vitinha and Manchester City pair Bernardo Silva and Rúben Dias are among the high-profile players in the Portuguese team aiming to win in Germany this year.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner said: “I think this generation deserves to win a competition of this magnitude. Semi-finals? I hope we can go further.”
“We have to go step by step, live in the moment, be calm, work as well as until now, believe that it is possible. We know it is a short competition, but the team is prepared.”
Ronaldo will compete in a record sixth European Championship in Germany, alongside two other members of the current squad, Pepê and Rui Patrício, who were part of Portugal's Euro 2016 winning team.
“I enjoy football, records are a consequence, not an objective, they appear naturally,” he stated.
“It's my sixth European Championship, it's about enjoying it in the best possible way, playing well and making sure the team can win.”
This will be his first tournament under the direction of coach Roberto Martínez, former Belgium coach.
Portugal will play the Czech Republic in their first Group F match on June 18 before matches against Turkey and Georgia.
In Portugal's 3-0 warm-up match win against the Republic of Ireland, the 39-year-old scored twice, increasing his men's international goal record to 130.
“He's having a good start, which is essential,” Ronaldo said.
“I feel prepared, I have prepared myself for this competition.”
Despite playing in five European Championships, Ronaldo still feels the thrill of competition.
“The anxiety is always there, that tickling in your stomach, especially the day before the game,” he said.
“I'm glad I feel it, when I don't feel it it's better to give up and stop. I feel motivated and prepared. I see the team quite calm.”
