Cristiano Ronaldo could play in 2016 Olympics as over-age player

Cristiano Ronaldo could be part of Portugal’s squad for the Olympics for 2016

Portugal and Sweden have both qualified for the Olympics in 2016 as a result of their qualification for the finals of the U-21 European Championships and Cristiano Ronaldo could be part of the Portuguese squad, according to a report in Globoesporte. He had last played in the Olympics in 2004.

Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) President Fernando Gomes said, in an interaction with Globoesporte, “It is a possibility. We can bring three players aged over 23. Cristiano is one of those being considered, but we have not yet sat down to discuss it."

The rules for Olympic Football state that 3 players over the age of 23 can be part of the squad that plays in the tournament. As per that rule, the 3 players who can be part of the squad for next year, can be born before Jan. 1, 1993, for the tournament scheduled to be held in Rio de Janeiro from the 3^th to the 20^th of August.

This would also mean that Cristiano Ronaldo, who is currently 30, could be part of the team, after having played in the European Championships in France from the 10^th of June to the 10^th of July.

Ronaldo’s participation, however, will also see him miss part of Real Madrid’s pre-season tour, and if his team makes the final, which will be played on the 20^th of August, he will also miss the beginning of the La Liga season. The last time he played in the Olympics was in 2004, after he had been a crucial member of the Portugal team that finished runners-up at the 2004 European Championships, when he was a Manchester United player.

Since Sweden too have qualified for the Olympics, we could potentially see a Ronaldo vs Zlatan match, should the Swedish federation decide to take Zlatan Ibrahimovic along.