Cristiano Ronaldo breaks all-time men’s international caps record

23.03.2023 - 23:25 arabnews.com

LISBON: Cristiano Ronaldo broke the men’s international appearance record on Thursday by starting Portugal’s Euro 2024 qualifier against Liechtenstein.

The 38-year-old, who was dropped from the Portuguese starting XI during the World Cup in Qatar last year, won a 197th cap for his country. “Records are my motivation,” Ronaldo told reporters on Wednesday. “I want to become the most capped player in history.

That would make me proud. “But it doesn’t stop there, I still want to be called up very often.” Ronaldo made his international debut in 2003 and became the first man to score in five World Cups last year before Portugal lost to Morocco in the quarter-finals.

He is currently playing for Saudi club Al Nassr after an acrimonious end to his second spell at Manchester United. Ronaldo’s appearance off the bench in the defeat by Morocco equalled the previous mark of 196 caps held by Kuwait’s Bader Al-Mutawa.

Premier League UEFA Cristiano Ronaldo Jim Ratcliffe Sweden Manchester Qatar Germany Switzerland Portugal Morocco Saudi Arabia Lisbon county Lyon Kuwait Liechtenstein

Former Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo was involved in a spat with Al Feiha's Ali Al-Zaqaan as Al Nassr were held to a goalless draw.

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