Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo is the most-capped male player in football history and continues to add to his goal tally, but what is his true level now?

[Rafael Leao](https://theathletic.com/football/player/rafael-leao-oUZsppBnKSqUIPA0/) had to make do with a substitute appearance and so did [Goncalo Ramos](https://theathletic.com/football/player/goncalo-ramos-JFwYvIckETQ44FZx/), despite 23 goals for Benfica this season (and a hat-trick when he took Ronaldo’s place against [Switzerland](https://theathletic.com/football/team/switzerland/) in the World Cup). But there are also journalists and fans who think it would be best for Portugal if he had retired from the national team and you could say they were vindicated with what happened in the World Cup.” Ramos did eventually replace Ronaldo on a night when [Bernardo Silva](https://theathletic.com/football/player/bernardo-silva-ggVYkgD9dgp7Qo28/) added Portugal’s other goal and [Diogo Jota](https://theathletic.com/football/player/diogo-jota-iprL3ZwHJArLGyuc/) was an unused substitute. [Joao Felix](https://theathletic.com/football/player/joao-felix-ucCJXAWiq0yowCTd/), the [Chelsea](https://theathletic.com/football/team/chelsea/) loanee who played alongside Ronaldo, is developing into a player of real substance. [Morocco](https://theathletic.com/football/team/morocco/) in the quarter-finals. And good luck to Cancelo for the first goal, if he wants to deny Ronaldo what would be his 11th hat-trick for Portugal. Last weekend, football news outlets throbbed with the news Ronaldo had fizzed in a 30-yard free kick in his latest assignment for Al Nassr. Few in the Portuguese media, it seems, want to challenge his position and the crowd in Lisbon could be guaranteed to cheer his name louder than any other player. Or should we still consider him capable of troubling the most accomplished defences, contrary to what was seen in the World Cup and the verdict of Erik ten Hag, United’s manager? “He’s one of the greatest players of all time and he has always been proud to play for Portugal. As it turned out, Martinez has not changed a huge amount since taking the job, calling up 23 of the 26 players who played in the World Cup. Ever the showman, he proceeded to score two goals in a freewheeling 4-0 win over Liechtenstein and might eventually be credited with a hat-trick given

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

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.

Cristiano Ronaldo started in Portugal's 4-0 win over Lichtenstein to make his 197th appearance and become the most-capped player in the history of the ...

In the event they don't manage to lure him to Saudi Arabia, they could make a move Neymar. The Ligue 1 champions want to part ways with Lionel Messi, Neymar and Sergio Ramos. Meanwhile, according to Goal, Al-Nassr rivals Al-Hilal are willing to land Messi.

Marcelo wove himself into Real Madrid's history during his 16 years at the club. His son Enzo is looking to do the same.

Enzo: I went to the pitch and there is a photo I took with him, with the trophy and with Neymar. And the third one is to continue beating my father at [FIFA](https://theathletic.com/football/international-football/). [I’ve loved since I was a kid is Karim Benzema](https://theathletic.com/4312821), I’ve always watched him a lot and I love the way he plays. Someone who I also watch a lot and is a very good example is Ronaldo Nazario because he had the ability to score goals, to get away from the goalkeeper, and I’m fascinated by that. The second is to win a El Clasico has always been [one of the best games to watch and play](https://theathletic.com/4332474/2023/03/23/derby-days-barcelona-el-clasico/). I have to keep working the same way, I can’t relax. I came thinking I was going to see the stadium and I signed the contract of my life. When you arrive, you don’t come and say you are going to win and be the player with the most titles. Of course, what came out was always about Cristiano and the celebration and it’s super normal, but I have other friends as well with whom I do things outside of football. I’m not the one to talk for 10 minutes, but I’m there when I can help: after a game when you play badly you get whistled, which is super normal, or you miss a goal, you score an own goal… Marcelo is a frequent visitor and a poster of the full-back with the word ‘fantasy’ on it is still visible in the club facilities.

Cristiano Ronaldo perhaps should have been awarded a hat-trick in Portugal's 4-0 win over Liechtenstein on Thursday.Ronaldo was making a record 197t.

“It was an obvious next step from the attitude and the work we did in training. Neither the referee nor his assistants managed to see the touch off Ronaldo and Cancelo was awarded with the goal. But the 38-year-old was in no doubt as to who got the final touch and he ran away in celebration with his hand held aloft, claiming the goal.

Cristiano Ronaldo has spoken of his pride at breaking another record on a “special” night that earned him a 197th cap for Portugal.

[grown accustomed to rewriting the history books](https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/cristiano-ronaldo-records-listed/blte685b372ff7aeb69) down the years, with another entry added to his remarkable sporting fairytale on Thursday when turning out for his country in a Euro 2024 qualifier against Lichtenstein. [MUST READ: How to build a €10m wonderkid](https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/how-build-10m-wonderkid-rise-nxgn-andreas-schjelderup-nordsjaelland-football-university/blt99474762c14c5e90) He now boasts [120 efforts for Portugal – a record haul](https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/cristiano-ronaldo-top-20-international-goalscorers-all-time/1rr9rvhlbe7zz1jrj4oj9cakgf) – and has made more appearances than anybody else in men’s international football.

Cristiano Ronaldo followed up his record-breaking performance on the pitch for Portugal with an Instagram-breaking snap on social media for his CR7 ...

"The best in history," echoed another. Others replied "God bless" and "oh my god". [Cristiano Ronaldo nets another free-kick as he breaks international appearance record](https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/cristiano-ronaldo-portugal-freekick-record-29537377) ['](https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/cristiano-ronaldo-man-utd-best-29529221) [Cristiano Ronaldo would tell everyone he knew he was going to be the best - and he was'](https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/cristiano-ronaldo-man-utd-best-29529221) [Cristiano Ronaldo insists 'I'm a better man' as he opens up on Man Utd departure](https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/cristiano-ronaldo-manchester-united-exit-29528085) [Cristiano Ronaldo's ex-girlfriend 'lost 11m Instagram followers in just 24 hours'](https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/ronaldo-ex-lost-11m-followers-29510054) [Pep Guardiola looks totally different with hair in 'hypnotising' old footage](https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/pep-guardiola-hair-manchester-city-29545232) His former United team-mate Patrice Evra argued: "Here we gooo haters won't like it." [this time from just outside the box](https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/cristiano-ronaldo-portugal-freekick-record-29537377), as he helped his nation get off to an ideal start in Euro 2024 qualification in a 4-0 victory. [comments section.](https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/cristiano-ronaldo-god-underwear-instagram-29545334#comments-section) [scoring a 40-yard free-kick](https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/cristiano-ronaldo-al-nassr-freekick-29494882) to help Al-Nassr to a 2-1 win against Abha last weekend, he bagged a brace for Portugal against Liechtenstein on Thursday (March 23). One commented: "God God." [Winning horse to earn more than Cristiano Ronaldo and Elon Musk at mega-rich race](https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/horse-racing/dubai-world-cup-ronaldo-musk-29543501) [Cristiano Ronaldo](https://www.dailystar.co.uk/latest/cristiano-ronaldo) has been labelled a "God" by his fans after he stripped down to his CR7 underwear. The ladies were certainly swooning in the comments section with one writing "Ufff my man" and another referring to Ronaldo as "Daddy Cris". [Manchester United](https://www.dailystar.co.uk/latest/manchester-united-fc) star showed off his phenomenal physique, which he's managed to maintain despite now being aged 38, in an upload to his 565million

He would achieve tremendous success at Santiago Bernabeu, including four Champions League titles. He would end up leaving the club in 2018 in order to join ...

Real Madrid fans will be happy to hear that Ronaldo did not consider joining city rivals, Atletico Madrid. In the summer, there had been rumours that Ronaldo was even open to a transfer to Atletico Madrid in order to remain in the Champions League. Cristiano Ronaldo is a Real Madrid icon and most probably the greatest player to ever pull on the royal white jersey.

First player to score 800 career goals ; Sporting CP, 31, 5 ; Manchester United, 346, 145 ; Real Madrid, 438, 450 ; Juventus, 134, 101 ...

With over 800 career goals and counting, Ronaldo is undoubtedly one of the most lethal marksmen in the history of football. In a career spanning more than two decades, the Portuguese superstar has broken numerous records to claim his place amongst the game's legends. He is the all-time record international goalscorer with 118 strikes, and also boasts of being the all-time leading scorer in the Uefa Champions League (140).