Stunning truth behind Cristiano Ronaldo history at Euro 2020

Cristiano Ronaldo is being hailed as a "freak of nature" after the Portuguese ace equalled the record for most goals scored in international men's football, during his side's 2-2 draw with France at Euro 2020.

Ronaldo kept defending champions Portugal alive in the tournament with two penalties to cancel out a brace from France's Karim Benzema, with the draw enough to send both teams through to the round of 16.

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Germany came through as the second-placed side in Group F, despite having to twice come from behind to snatch a 2-2 draw with Hungary.

The result sees the Germans book a showdown with old foes England in the knockout stages.

However, it was Ronaldo who stole the headlines in the blockbuster final pool game from the 'group of death' as the 36-year-old etched his name in the record books again.

The Portuguese ace scored two goals from the penalty spot to equal the world record 109 international goals scored by Iran's Ali Daei - ensuring Portugal scrambled into the knockout phase.

Ronaldo tucked away the first of three penalties in the match in the 31st minute to give his side a deserved lead but Benzema equalised from the spot in first-half stoppage time.

Benzema struck again just after halftime from Paul Pogba's superb pass and at that stage Portugal were heading out of the competition they won by beating France in 2016.

Ronaldo beat Hugo Lloris from the spot again on the hour, however, shortly before Pogba thumped a long-range effort against the crossbar in a match that sprung to life after a cagey start.

BBC pundit and England legend Alan Shearer put Ronaldo's stunning goal-scoring feat in perspective, after tweeting an extraordinary detail about his joint-record 109 international goals.

Shearer (63 England caps) - who was joined by fellow England greats Frank Lampard (106 caps) and Rio Ferdinand (81 caps) - rightly pointed out that Ronaldo has scored more international goals than many of the game's greats have played matches.

The incredible achievement sent fans on social media into a frenzy, with many declaring Ronaldo to be the greatest footballer of all time.

Ronaldo's men book knockout date with Belgium

Portugal still had to hang on in a breathless conclusion to Group F which meant they finished third on four points, behind Germany (four points) who twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with Hungary.

The Portuguese will play Belgium while France topped the group with five points to avoid a Wembley clash with England and instead will take on Switzerland in Bucharest.

Portugal bossed the first half and were awarded a penalty in the 27th minute after Lloris's attempted punch wiped out Danilo.

Lloris was shown a yellow card before Ronaldo smashed the penalty into the corner.

France were rattled but went in on level terms when referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz deemed that Nelson Semedo had bundled over Kylian Mbappe on the stroke of halftime.

Benzema buried the penalty and two minutes after the break was picked out by Pogba and the striker, shown to be just onside by a VAR check, slotted the ball past Rui Patricio.

The game's third penalty, a Euros record, was awarded for a handball by Jules Kounde and Ronaldo beat Lloris again from the spot to register his fifth goal of the goal tournament.

with agencies

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