Euro 2024 Qualifiers: Ronaldo scores twice in record-breaking night with Portugal
Ronaldo adds the international appearance landmark to an impressive list of individual records
In his familiar way of hugging the headlines and making the news,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.
He left the pitch in tears following Portugal's shock 1-0 loss against the North Africans.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner has increase his record tally of 118 international goals to 120 as Portugal begin their qualification campaign for next year's European Championship in Germany with a 4-0 drubbing of Liechtenstein
Since leaving Europe, Ronaldo has scored nine goals in 10 matches for Al Nassr.
Ronaldo adds the international appearance landmark to an impressive list of individual records.
He is the leading goalscorer in European Championship finals with 14 goals and has netted a record 140 times in the Champions League.
Ronaldo has also finished as the top-scorer in three of Europe's top five leagues -- in England, Spain and Italy.
Portugal will visit Luxembourg in their second Group J qualifier on Sunday.
They have also been drawn alongside Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland and Slovakia.
