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COMMENT
It is the only thing missing. Cristiano Ronaldo has won almost everything there is to win in the game, both individually and collectively, but international success with Portugal continues to elude him.
In his six seasons at Manchester United, the Portuguese racked up three Premier League titles, an FA Cup, a Champions League title and a Club World Cup crown, among many other trophies, while La Liga and the Copa del Rey have been added in his time in Spain.
But there is still one hole on his CV. For Portugal, Ronaldo - like Lionel Messi with Argentina - has been criticised for his off-colour performances in the past and although a key player for his country, he has yet to land a big prize with his national side. And now could be the time to change that.
Euro 2004 is the closest Ronaldo has come to claiming a title with his country. Then a teenage sensation, the young forward helped his country all the way to the final of the continental competition, only to see it all end in tears as Luiz Felipe Scolari's side went down to Greece in a forgettable final played at home.
| IN NUMBERS Cristiano Ronaldo's success story |
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| 1 | The Portuguese won the Ballon d'Or in 2008 and has yet to reclaim the prize, but could claim it again this year |
| 2 | Ronaldo has twice made it to the last four of a major tournament with his country, but is still without a title at international level |
| 11 | At club level, however, he has won 11 trophies, including league titles in two top tournaments, the Champions League and the Club World Cup |
| 34 | Despite criticism of his international form, Cristiano now has 34 goals for Portugal - two more than Luis Figo - in 93 matches |
| 269 | At club level, he has hit 269 goals in 467 games - including an incredible 146 in 144 at Real Madrid |
There was more pain two years later as Ronaldo's Portugal were eliminated at the semi-final stage of the 2006 World Cup, losing by a single goal to France in Munich. A second-round exit to Germany at Euro 2008 followed, while Ronaldo cut an isolated figure as Portugal went out to eventual winners Spain in the last 16 of the 2010 World Cup.
At Euro 2012, Ronaldo received a lot of criticism for failing to perform in the opening two matches - an unfortunate 1-0 defeat to Germany and a last-gasp 3-2 win over Denmark. But he was back to his very best in an all-important 2-1 win over Netherlands in his side's final Group B match, scoring both of his team's goals, hitting the post twice and setting up a glorious chance for Nani which the Manchester United winger should have converted.
He is clearly a man on form and in one of the most open international tournaments in recent memory, Portugal stand a real chance of going all the way in Poland and Ukraine.
Now age 27 and at the peak of his powers, Ronaldo looks to be stepping up for his country and if he can continue the kind of form he produced against the Netherlands, anything can happen.
Portugal are already in the last eight and with a seemingly straightforward quarter-final match ahead against the Czech Republic on Thursday, they seem certain to advance to the penultimate hurdle of the continental competition.
This, then, is Ronaldo's big chance, the opportunity to complete an already impressive CV with the one thing that is truly missing - international success. Though still second best in terms of trophies when compared to club colleague Iker Casillas and the Barcelona stars who have won it all for the Catalans and for their country in recent years, such comparisons are hardly fair on Cristiano.
Portugal are not Spain and the smaller side from the Iberian Peninsula saw their own 'Golden Generation' come and go without winning a thing, as the likes of Luis Figo and Rui Costa have long since retired.
But they have Ronaldo in top form and with the forward looking to round off an already-impressive year by claiming the Ballon d'Or ahead of old foe Messi, he could just take Portugal all the way to the title in Poland and Ukraine.
So while silencing his critics is surely satisfactory, completing his CV with international glory for his country would be priceless. And you can bet he has it in his sights already.