Cristiano Ronaldo means business ahead of Euro 2024 with double for Portugal

Cristiano Ronaldo announced himself ready for Euro 2024 with a stunning double as Portugal completed their preparations with a 3-0 friendly victory over Republic of Ireland.

The 39-year-old, who had earlier hit the post with a deflected free-kick, marked his 207th senior cap with his 129th and 130th international goals a week before Roberto Martinez’s men launch their Group F campaign against Czech Republic in Leipzig.

Skipper Ronaldo’s sweet 50th and 60th-minute strikes coupled with Joao Felix’s first-half opener handed the hosts a comfortable win in Aveiro as the second phase of John O’Shea’s audition for the job of Ireland head coach ended in sobering fashion.

Ireland may not have been expected to beat a side ranked sixth and 54 places above them by FIFA, but O’Shea’s exhortations to be “horrible” to play against came to nothing as the organisation they had shown to frustrate and ultimately beat Hungary a week earlier deserted them in the face of a relentless onslaught.

They had started confidently enough with Jake O’Brien, making his first start for Ireland, dealing with Bruno Fernandes’ 13th-minute cross after the Manchester United midfielder had accepted Rafael Leao’s pass and been forced wide by keeper Caoimhin Kelleher.

O’Brien stood firm once again to bar Joao Cancelo’s path to goal and Robbie Brady rattled Diogo Dalot as the visitors warmed to their task, but Kelleher had to block Felix’s 18th-minute shot with his foot after Fernandes, Ronaldo and Dalot had linked to set him up.

However, the respite proved temporary as Ireland slept at the resulting corner to allow Cancelo and Fernandes to play it short and feed Felix, who drilled a low drive into the bottom corner.

The woodwork came to Kelleher’s rescue four