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Until their unlikely Euro 2016 glory, Portugal were perennial underachievers on the international stage.
But Jose Mourinho believes that "nothing is impossible" for his homeland at this year's World Cup in Russia, and it is little surprise who he highlights as the reason why.
Cristiano Ronaldo played a crucial role in helping his country to Euro 2016 glory in France, and has enjoyed another impressive campaign with his Spanish club, scoring 42 goals in all competitions.
Ronaldo's Champions League centuryShow all 21 1 /21Ronaldo's Champions League century Ronaldo's Champions League century Ronaldo's Champions League century Against Bayern Munich, Cristiano Ronaldo became the first ever man to score 100 goals in the Uefa Champions League. Here we recount some of his most memorable.
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Ronaldo's Champions League century Goal 1 Ronaldo opened his century of Champions League goals against Debreceni in the third round of qualifying for the competition. He netted a precise tap in off a Wayne Rooney cross off the right flank.
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Ronaldo's Champions League century Goal 9 An injury time free-kick from 20-yards out against former club Sporting secured a 2-1 win for Manchester united in the 2007 Champions League group stages.
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Ronaldo's Champions League century Goal 12 A towering 26th minute header in the 2008 final gave Manchester United a vital early lead. The Reds went on to beat Chelsea 6-5 in penalties.
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Ronaldo's Champions League century Goal 15 Still to this day one of the finest goals in Champions League history. A 35-yard screamer from open play against Porto gave Manchester United the a 3-2 aggregate win in the quarter-finals.
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Ronaldo's Champions League century Goal 40 Ronaldo's 90th-minute strike won an engrossing game as the nine-time champions scored twice in the last four minutes to snatch a 3-2 victory.
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Ronaldo's Champions League century Goal 43 A cheeky chip over goalkeeper Kenneth Vemeer gave Ronaldo his first Champions league hatrick as Real Madrid thumped Ajax 3-1 in the second group stage match in 2012.
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Ronaldo's Champions League century Goal 44 A second chip in two matches- this time Ronaldo latched on to a long ball in the box before sneakily flicking over Borussia Dortmund keeper Roman Widenfeller for the equaliser.
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Ronaldo's Champions League century Goal 50 50 up in style! Six minutes into the 2012/13 Champions League quarter-finals first leg against Galatasaray, Ronaldo found himself in space to convert Karim Benzema’s cross, putting Madrid one step closer to what was a record 24th European semi-final.
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Ronaldo's Champions League century Goal 54 Ronaldo and Real Madrid ran riot against Galatasaray in the 2013 group stages. A jaw dropping dribble weaved through the Turkish defence and a low blast past the outstretched hands of Fernando Musrela brought up Ronaldo’s second European hatrick and helped them to a 6-1 win.
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Ronaldo's Champions League century Goal 62 This time Schalke were at the other end of the Ronaldo and Madrid show. He strormed down the centre field, split the defence in two, dribbled the keeper and scored his second of the night. Simple.
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Ronaldo's Champions League century Goal 64 The second leg of the 2013 Champions league round of 16 against Schalke brought about another Ronaldo double. A 30-yard run down the right wing and a shot from the edge of the box gave the keeper no chance. Madrid completed a 9-2 aggregate win over the Germans.
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Ronaldo's Champions League century Goal 68 The night Ronaldo won the Champions League for Real Madrid. He lined up for the 120th minute penalty and made no mistake. Real Madrid scored 4 goals in extra time to break Atletico hearts.
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Ronaldo's Champions League century Goal 73 Ronaldo's 73rd European goal came at Liverpool. Despite not being as instantly brilliant as some of his others, it was voted the second-best goal in the competition that season and set Real on their way to a comfortable 3-0 win at Anfield.
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Ronaldo's Champions League century Goal 80 A classic Ronaldo penalty brought up the personal milestone of 80 European goals and helped but was not enough to send Real through to the finals of the Champions League.
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Ronaldo's Champions League century Goal 83 After Marcelo’s shot was saved by the keeper, Ronaldo was in the perfect spot for a rebound and in the process brought up his third European hat-trick vs Shaktar in the 2015 Champions League group stages.
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Ronaldo's Champions League century Goal 90 An 8 goal drubbing of Malmo gave Ronaldo his fourth European hat-trick. The third goal from the three came in the 59th minute from a low blast through the keepers legs.
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Ronaldo's Champions League century Goal 91 With his fourth goal of the match against Malmo, Ronaldo broke the record for the most goals in the group stages of the Champions League (11).
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Ronaldo's Champions League century Goal 92 A game later against Roma, Ronaldo ventured down the left leaving the defence trailing. One quick cut in and a curved right foot shot later and he had his 92nd European goal.
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Ronaldo's Champions League century Ronaldo’s fifth European hat-trick came against Wolfsburg in the 2016 quarter-finals. The Germans had won the first leg 2-0. He completed the stunning comeback with a sublime chipped free kick that sent the Madrid fans into delirium.
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Ronaldo's Champions League century Goal 100 The Real Madrid superstar scored five of his team's six goals in the quarter-final tie against Bayern Munich, moving him to a century of goals as he tapped home Marcelo’s cross in the second period of extra time.
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Now he can fire his nation to victory in the biggest competition of them all, says Mourinho.
"Portugal has an interesting squad," the Manchester United manager told ESPN Brazil. "Without Cristiano, it would be impossible. But with him nothing is impossible."
The former Chelsea, Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Porto manager also shared similar sentiments about Argentina, who led by Lionel Messi, are chasing their first World Cup crown since 1986.
Cristiano Ronaldo's finest European performancesShow all 7 1 /7Cristiano Ronaldo's finest European performances Cristiano Ronaldo's finest European performances Cristiano Ronaldo's finest European performances Here are the moments at Real Madrid when he has bent the biggest European nights his way.
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Cristiano Ronaldo's finest European performances 29 April 2014 vs Bayern Munich It feels strange looking back four years on but Real Madrid had a desperate quest for their 10th Champions League title – la Decima – and many backed Pep Guardiola’s Bayern Munich to knock them out in the 2014 semis. But Real won 1-0 at home and when the teams returned to the Allianz Arena, Guardiola made a fatal miscalculation, leaving his team too open. So Ronaldo destroyed them on the break, scoring twice in a 4-0 win to send Real through to the Lisbon final.
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Cristiano Ronaldo's finest European performances 24 May 2014 vs Atletico Madrid It was not his best performance as Real Madrid struggled to break down a tenacious Atletico Madrid side who came within seconds of winning. But even then Ronaldo was there at the end, scoring the confirming fourth goal from the penalty spot, running away with his shirt off. By winning the European Cup in his homeland, and providing the defiing image, he had made it his night.
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Cristiano Ronaldo's finest European performances 12 April 2016 vs Wolfsburg It was not his best performance as Real Madrid struggled to break down a tenacious Atletico Madrid side who came within seconds of winning. But even then Ronaldo was there at the end, scoring the confirming fourth goal from the penalty spot, running away with his shirt off. By winning the European Cup in his homeland, and providing the defiing image, he had made it his night.
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Cristiano Ronaldo's finest European performances 28 May 2016 vs Atletico Madrid Just as he had in 2014, Ronaldo ensured that he provided the defining moment of Real's 2016 Champions League final win, putting away the decisive penalty at the end of the shootout in Milan after Juanfran had missed for Atletico. Ronaldo did not have the best game, bur no one remembers that now.
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Cristiano Ronaldo's finest European performances 12 April 2017 vs Bayern Munich Away at Bayern Munich in the 2017 quarters, Real were struggling and up against it, and only a missed penalty stopped them from going 2-0 down. But the game turned when Ronaldo received Carvajal's cross, swivelled and volleyed the ball into the bottom corner, a masterful finish. He scored another that night and three more in the thrilling second leg to make sure.
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Cristiano Ronaldo's finest European performances 3 June 2017 vs Juventus Retaining the Champions League was meant to be impossible but Real Madrid did it in 2017 and Ronaldo, of course, was front and centre of the Cardiff final. He scored Real's first and third goals and while they were not his best - or even the best of the game - he now had back to back winners medals, and not many can say that.
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"I believe that the Argentinian national team without Lionel Messi wouldn't be a contender," the 55-year-old Portuguese added. "But with him, it is one of the favourites."
Mourinho said five-times champions Brazil have one of the most settled squads heading into the tournament, with the right mix of tactical flexibility and individual talent.
"I like very much the basic structure of Brazil, its tactical and mentality," he said.
"There is a mixture between Brazilian natural talent, with a serious approach, physical, tactical.
Additional reporting by Reuters.
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