Ronaldo breaks record for most appearances in men's international soccer
Cristiano Ronaldo set the record as the most-capped men's international footballer after making his 197th appearance for Portugal on Thursday.
He broke the previous high of 196 held by Bader Al-Mutawa. The Kuwaiti attacker made his international debut in 2003 - the same year as Ronaldo's first outing for Portugal - and last represented his country in June 2022.
Top 5
| # | Player | Country | Caps |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal | 197 |
| 2 | Bader Al-Mutawa | Kuwait | 196 |
| 3 | Soh Chin Ann | Malaysia | 195 |
| 4 | Ahmed Hassan | Egypt | 184 |
| 5 | Ahmed Mubarak | Oman | 183 |
The women's record for international caps is held by the United States' Kristine Lilly with 354.
Ronaldo also extended his record as the all-time leading scorer in men's international football with a brace during Thursday's 4-0 Euro 2024 qualifying win over Liechtenstein. He set the record in September 2021 with his 110th Portugal goal and is now on 120 after converting a penalty and free-kick in Lisbon.
The 38-year-old joined Saudi Arabia's Al Nassr at the end of 2022 after obliterating numerous club records through his stints with Sporting CP, Manchester United (twice), Real Madrid, and Juventus in Europe.
Other selected individual records by Ronaldo
| Record | Total |
|---|---|
| Most goals in men's competitive matches | 830 |
| Most Champions League goals | 140 |
| Most Champions League appearances | 183 |
| Most European Championship goals | 14 |
| Most Euro & World Cup goals combined | 22 |
Portugal next faces Luxembourg in another Euro 2024 qualifier on Sunday.