Cristiano Ronaldo Creates History, Becomes First Male Footballer to Play 200 International Matches

NEW DELHI: During Portugal's European Championship qualification triumph against Iceland on Tuesday, Cristiano Ronaldo became the first man to play 200 international matches.

The Portugal captain, who made his international debut in 2003, reached the milestone by scoring the game-winning goal in a 1-0 victory over Iceland at Reykjavik's Laugardalsvollur stadium.

With 122 goals, the 38-year-old is also the highest scorer in men's international football. In addition, the Al Nassr forward is the only person in history to have competed in five separate European Championship competitions.

Ronaldo became the first male football player to score in five World Cups at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d'Or winner, has two significant victories with Portugal: Euro 2016 and the inaugural UEFA Nations League three years later.

Ronaldo became the first male football player to score in five World Cups at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d'Or winner, has two significant victories with Portugal: Euro 2016 and the inaugural UEFA Nations League three years later.

After breaking Kuwait forward Bader Al-Mutawa's 196-cap record in March, Ronaldo, 38, was celebrated by Guinness World Records before kickoff on Tuesday for reaching 200 games for Portugal nearly 20 years after making his debut.

And he was celebrating at the conclusion of the game, too, after scoring the game-winning goal from close range against Iceland to put Portugal on track for Euro 2024 qualification with the Portuguese team's fourth win in four Group J games.

While Ronaldo has the men's international record, former USWNT member and 2015 U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame inductee Kristine Lilly holds the all-time record with 354 appearances.

Ronaldo, 38, has recently been in phenomenal form in front of goal. He has five goals in Portugal's four Euro Championship Qualifiers 2024 matches, keeping his country atop Group J with four wins in four games. In the first two Qualifiers, the former Real Madrid icon scored twice against Liechtenstein and once against Luxembourg.

Also Read: Delhi: FIR Filed Against Man Stayed at 5-Star Hotel for 2 Years Without Paying; Hotel Sustained a Loss of 58 Lakh

Also Watch: