The recently appointed Portugal boss Roberto Martinez has had to face plenty of questions over whether Cristiano Ronaldo will remain as captain and has ...
What surprised me a lot was the degree of commitment to the selection. "It depends a lot on the last three training sessions. May we be better than the sum of our individualities." [ former Belgium manager](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/belgium-football-team) succeeded [Fernando Santos](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/fernando-santos) as manager after the latter stepped down in the wake of disappointment at the [Qatar](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/qatar) [World Cup ](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/world-cup-2022?service=responsive)late last year. "From there it is important that we focus on tomorrow's game. Cristiano Ronaldo, Rui Patrício and Bernardo will be the captains. [HAVE YOUR SAY!](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/cristiano-ronaldo-martinez-portugal-captaincy-29534835#comments-wrapper)Should Ronaldo have been named Portugal's only captain? [Five-time Ballon d'Or winner](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/ballon-dor) Ronaldo was the skipper under Santos, though eyebrows were raised recently when central defender Pepe served as Portugal's voting representative at the FIFA Best Awards, a role usually left for the captain. Martinez refused to be drawn into commenting whether his first game at the helm will see a line-up similar to the one that was dumped out of the World Cup at the hands of Morocco in December. [Portugal national team](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/portugal-football-team) boss [Roberto Martinez](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/roberto-martinez) has managed to side-step the pressure that was on him to appoint [Cristiano Ronaldo](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/cristiano-ronaldo) as the captain under his watch. "At the moment, the players with the most experience will be the ones who will captain the Selection. One of Martinez's biggest decisions in the opening exchanges of his reign has been what to do in regards to the captain's armband.
The former Manchester United star - who thought he had got a touch on the opener before it was given to Joao Cancelo - netted a third from the penalty spot ...
The 38-year-old Ronaldo is also the all-time scoring leader in men's soccer and took his tally to 120 goals after scoring with his penalty kick in the 51st and a powerful free kick from just outside the area in the 63rd. Ronaldo was benched in the knockout rounds in Qatar and left the field in tears after the defeat to Morocco. The game marked Roberto Martínez's first game with Portugal and it wasn't a bad way to start as Ronaldo found himself in the headlines for the right reasons.
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 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.
It was a night for records, as Harry Kane became England's all-time record scorer as Gareth Southgate's side started their qualifying campaign with a 2-1 win at ...
Also in England’s group – C – North Macedonia beat Malta 2-1. Declan Rice opened the scoring before Kane moved ahead of Wayne Rooney in England’s list of top goalscorers with a penalty kick – his 54th for his country – before half-time. The forward made a world-record 197th appearance to overhaul the previous record held by striker Bader Al-Mutawa, who played 196 times for Kuwait.
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 becomes the most-capped men's international footballer EVER with a 197th appearance after featuring in Portugal's Euro 2024 qualifier against ...
The camera's captured the Portugal captain walking off in tears and many felt the emotion was tied to his retirement. But, he failed to inspire a comeback. Cristiano Ronaldo becomes the most-capped men's international footballer EVER with a 197th appearance after featuring in Portugal's Euro 2024 qualifier against Liechtenstein... Buffon (Italy) - 176 Guardado (Mexico) - 179 Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) - 197
Cristiano Ronaldo will become the most-capped men's international footballer if he plays in Portugal's Euro 2024 qualifying opener against Liechtenstein on ...
- Most goals in European Championship finals (14) - Most Champions League wins (5) - Most Champions League appearances (183) - Most Champions League goals (140) "I want to become the most-capped player in history. "Records are my motivation," Ronaldo said on Wednesday.
Former Manchester United attacker Cristiano Ronaldo is set to become the most-capped men's international player in history.
Al-Mutawa became the record appearance holder after featuring in Kuwait's 3-0 defeat to Jordan in qualification for the 2023 Asian Cup. He has since taken his tally to 118 goals for his nation. However, he was unable to inspire a comeback.
With over 800 career goals and counting, Ronaldo is undoubtedly one of the most lethal marksmen in the history of football. He is the all-time record ...
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).
The 38-year-old is part of the Portuguese squad which will take on Liechtenstein and Luxembourg.
"And I was able to realise that I have a lot to give to the national team. The 38-year-old was captured in tears post-match with there being a general acceptance that the Qatar tournament was his last "I've always wanted to play. He explained: "I'm not going to lie. [Ronaldo](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/all-about/cristiano-ronaldo) claimed that could have been his last game for Portugal altogether. At present, Ronaldo has made 196 appearances and shares the record with Kuwait striker Bader Al-Mutawa.
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 left Man United in November and he's finally spoken publicly about his shock departure from Old Trafford.
Ronaldo also said the experience 'was part of his growth' and that he's become a 'better man' for it. It's also possible that Ronaldo would orchestrate his departure in the exact same disruptive manner if having his time again. "When we are at the top of the mountain, we often cannot see what is below. In an extraordinary war of words, Ronaldo had criticised Ten Hag, his teammates and his employer. "I have no problem saying, I had a bad career run, but there’s no time for regrets. The club then carefully considered their next move but the outcome was inevitable, as Ronaldo's position was untenable.
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.