(Lisbon) Cristiano Ronaldo improved his record of selections in the men’s national team and reached the symbolic bar of 200 caps by starting with Portugal against Iceland, Tuesday in Reykjavik, in qualifying for Euro-2024.
The 38-year-old striker, who joined Saudi club Al-Nassr in January, was the starter at the start of this fourth qualifying match for the European championship organized in Germany next year.
The five-time Ballon d’Or snatched the record last March, playing his 197th game for Seleçao against Liechtenstein to dethrone Kuwaiti Bader Al-Mutawa.
Assured of his tenure and appearing Monday at a press conference, “CR7” announced that he did not intend to retire internationally of his own accord.
“I will never give up coming here (in the Portugal team, editor’s note), because it’s still a dream. Reaching 200 international matches is not for anyone, it shows the love I have for my country and our team,” commented the native of Madeira.
“It would be spectacular to crown the 200th match for the selection with a goal”, added the Portuguese, also holder of the world record of goals in selection, with a total which thus far amounts to 122 achievements.
Since the arrival at the start of the year of his new coach, the Spaniard Roberto Martinez, Ronaldo has played the first three qualifying matches for Euro-2024 and scored twice in Portugal’s success against Liechtenstein (4- 0) and Luxembourg (6-0).
The former Manchester United, Real Madrid and then Juventus Turin player also played the entire game last Saturday against Bosnia and Herzegovina, but he did not score any of the three goals in the Portuguese victory (3-0 ).
Cristiano Ronaldo honored his first cap on August 20, 2003, at 18 years, 6 months and 15 days, coming into play in a friendly match against Kazakhstan when Portugal were coached by Brazilian Luiz Felipe Scolari.
In nearly 20 years of international career, the winger turned center forward has faced some 70 different nations and participated in all major international competitions since Euro-2004, five European Championships and five World Cups.
In the role of captain and attacking leader of Portugal, he won the first two major trophies in the history of his country: Euro-2016 and the League of Nations 2019.