Cristiano Ronaldo has become the all-time leading appearance maker in men’s international football – and marked the occasion by scoring twice on Thursday to extend his goals record.
The Portugal forward, dropped from his national team’s starting XI at the 2022 World Cup, returned to the line-up in his side’s opening Euro 2024 qualifier against Liechtenstein in Lisbon.
The match lifted Ronaldo to 197 caps for Portugal, surpassing Kuwait’s Bader Al Mutawa for the most international appearances in the men’s game.
The Al Nassr captain, who equalled the record when he came off the bench in the World Cup quarter-final defeat to Morocco in December, then extended his unprecedented goal tally, scoring twice in his side’s 4-0 win.
Ronaldo, 38, converted a 51st-minute penalty after Joao Cancelo and Bernardo Silva had put Portugal 2-0 up at Estadio Jose Alvalade before Ronaldo then drove home a free-kick 12 minutes later.
The double lifted Ronaldo’s international goals record to 120 – Iran’s Ali Daei sits second on 109 – while on Thursday he become also the first man to score 100 times in competitive internationals.
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Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates with the team's head coach Roberto Martinez after scoring his second goal - Portugal's fourth - during the Euro 2024 qualifier against Liechtenstein, in Lisbon, Portugal, March 23, 2023. EPA -
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo reacts after scoring to make it 4-0 against Liechtenstein. Ronaldo became the most capped player in men's international football, making his 197th appearance for his country. EPA -
Cristiano Ronaldo scores a penalty. Portugal's third. EPA -
Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal celebrates after scoring their sides third goal against Liechtenstein at Estadio Jose Alvalade. Getty Images -
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring a goal. EPA -
Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo vies for a header with Liechtenstein midfielder Noah Frommelt. AFP -
Portugal's forward Cristiano Ronaldo points to the crowd. AFP -
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo. Reuters -
Portugal player Cristiano Ronaldo in action. EPA -
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo fights for the ball with Liechtenstein's Sandro Wieser and Lars Traber. EPA -
Portugal's forward Cristiano Ronaldo jumps for a header. AFP -
Portugal fans display Cristiano Ronaldo banners inside the stadium before the match. Reuters -
Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo. AFP
After the match, Ronaldo tweeted in his native Portuguese: “Such good feelings for playing again and scoring for our national team and in a special stadium for me. Proud to be the most capped player ever.”
The former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus star, who signed for Saudi Arabia’s Nassr in late December, made his debut for Portugal in 2003.
In November, Ronaldo found the net in Portugal’s World Cup group opener against Ghana to become the first man to score in five World Cup finals tournaments. Restored on Thursday as national team captain, he now has 11 goals in his past nine appearances for club and country.
Roberto Martinez, overseeing his first match as Portugal manager, said: "It's a new cycle. It's important for a player to show commitment and that we can use his experience. Cristiano has that: a lot of experience and a lot of commitment to the national team.”
Drawn in Group J alongside Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Slovakia and Luxembourg, 2016 European champions Portugal take on the latter away on Sunday.
