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Cristiano Ronaldo broke the lads’s worldwide look document on Thursday and marked the event by scoring twice in Portugal’s 4-0 thrashing of Liechtenstein in Euro 2024 qualifying. The 38-year-old, who was dropped from the Portuguese first-choice XI through the World Cup in Qatar final yr, gained a 197th cap for his nation in Lisbon as a starter. He netted a 51st-minute penalty after earlier objectives from Joao Cancelo and Bernardo Silva, earlier than drilling dwelling a free-kick 12 minutes later. It was Ronaldo’s record-extending one hundred and twentieth objective for his nation and made him the primary man to attain 100 instances in aggressive internationals. “Data are my motivation,” Ronaldo had instructed reporters on Wednesday.”I need to turn into probably the most capped participant in historical past. That will make me proud.
Cristiano Ronaldo‘s free kick from this angle…
— Mikael Madridista (@MikaelMadridsta) March 23, 2023
“But it surely does not cease there, I nonetheless need to be referred to as up fairly often.”
Ronaldo made his worldwide debut in 2003 and have become the primary man to attain in 5 World Cups final yr earlier than Portugal misplaced to Morocco within the quarter-finals.
He’s at the moment enjoying for Saudi membership Al Nassr after an acrimonious finish to his second spell at Manchester United.
Ronaldo’s look off the bench within the defeat by Morocco equalled the earlier mark of 196 caps held by Kuwait’s Bader Al-Mutawa.
He left the pitch in tears following Portugal’s shock 1-0 loss towards the North Africans.
Since leaving Europe, Ronaldo has scored 9 objectives in 10 matches for Al Nassr.
He was changed because the beginning striker by Goncalo Ramos through the World Cup, with the Benfica teenager scoring a hat-trick in a last-16 win over Switzerland.
However veteran coach Fernando Santos stepped down following the event and new boss Roberto Martinez has instantly put his religion in Ronaldo, who additionally captained the facet.
There have been questions over whether or not his 20-year worldwide profession had resulted in Qatar as Ronaldo will probably be 39 by the point Euro 2024 kicks off.
However Martinez, who left his position as Belgium coach after the World Cup, has strongly defended his determination to maintain Ronaldo within the fold.
“To be within the nationwide staff, it’s a must to be dedicated,” the Spaniard stated on Thursday.
“It is a new cycle. It is vitally essential {that a} participant reveals dedication and that he can use his expertise.
“Cristiano has that: plenty of expertise and plenty of dedication to the nationwide staff.”
Portugal made the right begin to their qualification marketing campaign with a simple win towards Liechtenstein.
Cancelo scored the one objective of the primary half within the eighth minute however the floodgates opened after the break.
Bernardo Silva doubled the benefit lower than two minutes into the second interval earlier than Ronaldo hammered a penalty into the underside nook.
A robust free-kick from the sting of the field flew by the arms of goalkeeper Benjamin Buchel to finish the scoring.
Ronaldo was substituted late on for Ramos, with the a lot anticipated altering of the guard placed on the again burner.
Ronaldo provides the worldwide look landmark to a formidable checklist of particular person data.
He’s the main goalscorer in European Championship finals with 14 objectives and has netted a document 140 instances within the Champions League.
Ronaldo has additionally completed because the top-scorer in three of Europe’s high 5 leagues — in England, Spain and Italy.
Portugal will go to Luxembourg of their second Group J qualifier on Sunday.
They’ve additionally been drawn alongside Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland and Slovakia.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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