Debut and tears at 19
On Aug. 20, 2003, an 18-year-old Ronaldo made his official debut for Portugal in a 1-0 friendly victory over Kazakhstan. Having just transferred from Sporting to Manchester United, the young forward was given an opportunity by head coach Luiz Felipe Scolari to join a squad featuring senior stars like Luís Figo.
Less than a year later, Ronaldo participated in his first major tournament as Portugal hosted Euro 2004. In the opening match against Greece, he scored a stoppage-time header. While it was his first-ever goal for the national team, it was not enough to prevent a 1-2 defeat.
Portugal advanced deep into the tournament. In the semifinal against the Netherlands, Ronaldo opened the scoring to propel his team into their first major final.
However, the final brought heartbreak as Greece secured a 1-0 victory. Ronaldo broke down in tears as the title slipped away on home soil, creating one of the most memorable photos of his early international career.