Cristiano Ronaldo broke the lads’s worldwide look file by beginning Portugal’s Euro 2024 qualifier in opposition to Liechtenstein on Friday [AEDT].
The 38-year-old, who was dropped from the Portuguese beginning XI in the course of the World Cup in Qatar final yr, received a 197th cap for his nation.
“Records are my motivation,” Ronaldo instructed reporters.
“I wish to turn into probably the most capped participant in historical past. That would make me proud. But it doesn’t cease there, I nonetheless wish to be known as up fairly often.”
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Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal celebrates after Joao Cancelo (not pictured) scores. (Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Ronaldo made his worldwide debut in 2003 and have become the primary man to attain in 5 World Cups final yr earlier than Portugal misplaced to Morocco within the quarter-finals.
He is at the moment enjoying for Saudi membership Al Nassr after an acrimonious finish to his second spell at Manchester United.
Ronaldo’s look off the bench within the defeat by Morocco equalled the earlier mark of 196 caps held by Kuwait’s Bader Al-Mutawa.
He left the pitch in tears following Portugal’s shock 1-0 loss in opposition to the North Africans.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner will even be hoping to extend his file tally of 118 worldwide targets as Portugal start their qualification marketing campaign for subsequent yr’s European Championship in Germany.
Since leaving Europe, Ronaldo has scored 9 targets in 10 matches for Al Nassr. He was changed because the beginning striker by Goncalo Ramos in the course of the World Cup, with the Benfica teenager scoring a hat-trick in a last-16 win over Switzerland.
Portugal’s ahead Cristiano Ronaldo made historical past. (Photo by CARLOS COSTA / AFP)Source: AFP
But veteran coach Fernando Santos stepped down following the match and new boss Roberto Martinez has instantly put his religion in Ronaldo, who additionally captains the facet.
There have been questions over whether or not his 20-year worldwide profession had resulted in Qatar as Ronaldo will probably be 39 by the point Euro 2024 kicks off.
But Martinez, who left his function as Belgium coach after the World Cup, has strongly defended his choice to maintain Ronaldo within the fold.
“I don’t have a look at the age,” stated Martinez when he introduced his first squad final week.
The Spaniard added his squad announcement was the “place to begin” for Euro 2024, suggesting Ronaldo is prone to be concerned if Portugal qualify for the match.
Ronaldo provides the worldwide look landmark to a powerful listing of particular person data.
He is the main goalscorer in European Championship finals with 14 targets and has netted a file 140 instances within the Champions League.
Ronaldo has additionally completed because the top-scorer in three of Europe’s high 5 leagues — in England, Spain and Italy.
Portugal will go to Luxembourg of their second Group J qualifier. They have additionally been drawn alongside Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland and Slovakia.
FULL SCHEDULE — EURO QUALIFIERS (twenty fourth March AEDT)
Slovakia vs Luxembourg
Italy vs England
Denmark vs Finland
Portugal vs Liechtenstein
San Marino vs Northern Ireland
North Macedonia vs Malta
Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Iceland
Bulgaria vs Montenegro
