Cristiano Ronaldo Marks Record-Breaking 200th Appearance for Portugal with Last-Gasp Winner Against Iceland
Cristiano Ronaldo, the Al Nassr star, marked his record-breaking 200th appearance for Portugal with a last-gasp winner against Iceland. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner was named in the starting XI against Iceland, spearheading the attack alongside Rafael Leao and Bernardo Silva. Before kick-off, Ronaldo was awarded a Guinness World Record accolade for his landmark achievement, becoming the first male player to ever make 200 international appearances.
Ronaldo’s Career Achievements
Ronaldo’s career has been littered with spectacular achievements. He is already the highest goalscorer in men’s international football with 123, his latest coming on Tuesday night. He is also the only player to participate in five European Championships. Before kick-off, Ronaldo expressed his joy at landing his latest record, saying, “Two hundred games played proves the love I have for my country. For me, it is an extremely important milestone. It means a lot. [Two hundred] is a beautiful number that [no men’s player] has. I’m very proud because this is something I never thought I could reach. And I’m continuing to set records.”
Ronaldo’s Future Prospects
Portugal currently tops their Euro 2024 qualifying group, and there is every chance that Ronaldo could play in his sixth tournament. The former Manchester United star has already won the competition when he lifted the trophy in 2016. He also led the Selecao to victory in the inaugural Nations League three years later, where Goncalo Guedes scored the only goal in the final against the Netherlands.
Ronaldo’s Record Caps
However, if Ronaldo wanted to land the record for the outright most caps in football, he has some way to go. Kristine Lilly is the record cap holder with 354 international appearances for the USA women’s side. Ronaldo might have the record for the most international appearance in men’s football, but he is miles off the women’s.
Conclusion
Cristiano Ronaldo is a football legend who has achieved many milestones in his career. He marked his record-breaking 200th appearance for Portugal with a last-gasp winner against Iceland. Ronaldo is already the highest goalscorer in men’s international football with 123 goals and the only player to participate in five European Championships. Although he has a long way to go to beat Kristine Lilly’s record of 354 international appearances, Ronaldo continues to set records and make history in the world of football.