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.

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 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 scored a double in his 197th appearance for Portugal while Harry Kane broke Wayne Rooney's England scoring record in an eventful night of ...

Returns for the quarter-finals on April 12 with Manchester City v Bayern Munich and Benfica v Inter Milan, all the action streaming ad-free, live and on demand, with select matches in 4K UHD. The Tottenham Hotspur forward fired home shortly before half-time to double England’s lead and move past Wayne Rooney with whom he had shared the record. “Congratulations to Harry Kane on becoming England’s all-time leading goalscorer. Congrats Harry!” Rooney said on Twitter. He added a second just after the hour mark. “I look for commitment,” said Martinez.

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.