Cristiano Ronaldo

Portugal enjoyed a routine victory over Liechtenstein in their opening Euro 2024 qualifying match on Thursday. Cristiano Ronaldo was under the spotlight as ...

[Cristiano Ronaldo](https://www.marca.com/en/football/cristiano-ronaldo.html) was under the spotlight as he was making his record 197th international appearance, a figure more than any other player in history. [Euro 2024 qualifying](https://www.marca.com/en/football/2023/03/23/641caaf922601d93798b460d.html) match on Thursday. - CR7.

Cristiano Ronaldo, who turned 38 last month, won his 197th cap against Liechtenstein, surpassing Kuwaits Bader Al-Mutawa, as he returned to the Portugal ...

However, the 20-year-old Hojlund bundled home a header from close range in the 82nd minute to put his side back in front and then rifled home a stoppage-time shot to complete his hat-trick in his third international appearance, wrapping up the three points for Denmark. Ronaldo, who turned 38 last month, tucked in a penalty after Cancelo had been brought down before his rasping free-kick in the 63rd minute extended his record for the most goals in international football to 120. Cristiano Ronaldo tucked away a penalty and slammed home a free-kick as he set a new record for the most international caps in Portugal's 4-0 win over Liechtenstein in their opening Euro 2024 qualifier.

Cristiano Ronaldo has become the most capped men's player in international football after making his 197th Portugal appearance on Thursday.

He scored his first international goal during a Euro 2004 group stage game against Greece 10 months later. Ronaldo appeared as a substitute in both of his side's knockout matches. [Benfica](/soccer/team?id=1929) striker [Goncalo Ramos](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/288896/Goncalo-Ramos), scored a hat trick in their 6-1 win over [Switzerland](/soccer/team?id=475) in the round of 16.

Cristiano Ronaldo broke the record for the highest number of international appearances, scoring twice on his 197th cap for Portugal.

Two other teams in Group C met in Skopje, with North Macedonia beating Malta 2-1. [became England’s all-time record scorer](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/mar/23/italy-england-euro-2024-qualifying-group-c-match-report) as Gareth Southgate’s side started their qualifying campaign with a 2-1 win at the home of Euro 2020 champions Italy. [Portugal](https://www.theguardian.com/football/portugal) in European Championship qualifying group J.

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

The Spaniard added his squad announcement was the "starting point" for Euro 2024, suggesting Ronaldo is likely to be involved if Portugal qualify for the tournament. But Martinez, who left his role as Belgium coach after the World Cup, has strongly defended his decision to keep Ronaldo in the fold. [goals](https://www.france24.com/en/tag/football/) in 10 matches for Al Nassr. [Portuguese](https://www.france24.com/en/tag/portugal/) starting XI during the World Cup in Qatar last year, won a 197th cap for his country. 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. [playing for Saudi club Al Nassr](https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20221230-🔴-portugal-s-cristiano-ronaldo-signs-for-al-nassr-football-club-in-saudi-arabia) after an acrimonious end to his second spell at [Manchester United](https://www.france24.com/en/tag/manchester-united/).

Cristiano Ronaldo has made history by breaking the record for the most international caps by a men's player with his 197th appearance for Portugal.

Mexico Cristiano Ronaldo has made history by breaking the record for the most international caps by a men’s player with his 197th appearance for Portugal.

A Cristiano Ronaldo brace, as well as goals from Joao Cancelo and Bernardo Silva, gave Portugal an easy win over Liechtenstein to open Euro 2024 qualifying.

Ronaldo provided the third, tucking a penalty into the bottom corner after Joao Cancelo was tripped inside the box. The captain added the fourth after an hour, blasting a free-kick off Buchel's palms and into the top corner, to round off a near-perfect start to his side's qualifying campaign. They grabbed a second shortly after the half, Bernardo Silva lashing a shot through a crowd of bodies and past a helpless Buchel.

Ronaldo has 197 caps for Portugal · Overtakes Bader Al-Mutawa · No plans to stop after setting a new record.

[country coming from the bench against Morocco](https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/morocco-inspire-the-world-portugal-expense-winners-losers-ratings-cristiano-ronaldo/blt53a96aa2376fe2da) in the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals. "I want to become the most-capped player in history. I still want to be called up very often." [five appearances at the European Championship finals](https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/portugal-ronaldo-play-five-european-championship-finals/1w3l1wnz9gjux1a2yv7ujdh5md) - both leading totals in the history of the men's game. [MUST READ: Inside the mind of Emi Martinez](https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/world-cup-winner-emi-martinez-chaos-qatar-penalties-completing-football-messi/bltd426f476b0075b8c) [TOP STORY: Ronaldo reflects on his Man Utd misery](https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/cristiano-ronaldo-i-have-no-problem-admitting-that-my-play-soured-man-utd-during-difficult-phase/blt3d8d0568002c6c23)