Cristiano Ronaldo scored a brilliant free-kick goal on a historic night for the Portuguese star.
Cristiano Ronaldo broke the men’s transnational appearance record on Thursday and marked the occasion by scoring doubly in Portugal’s 4- 0 thrashing of Liechtenstein in Euro 2024 qualifying. The 38- time-old, who was dropped from the Portuguese first- choice XI during the World Cup in Qatar last time, won a 197th cap for his country in Lisbon as a starter. He netted a 51st- nanosecond penalty after earlier pretensions from Joao Cancelo and Bernardo Silva, before drilling home a free- kick 12 twinkles latterly. It was Ronaldo’s record- extending 120th thing for his country and made him the first man to score 100 times in competitive internationals.” Records are my provocation,” Ronaldo had told journalists on Wednesday.” I want to come the most limited player in history. That would make me proud.
“But it does not stop there, I still want to be called up veritably frequently.”
Ronaldo made his transnational debut in 2003 and came the first man to score in five World Mugs last time before Portugal lost to Morocco in the quarter- tests.
He’s presently playing for Saudi club Al Nassr after an rancorous end to his alternate spell at Manchester United.
Ronaldo’s appearance off the bench in the defeat by Morocco equalled the former mark of 196 caps held by Kuwait’s Bader Al- Mutawa.
He left the pitch in gashes following Portugal’s shock 1- 0 loss against the North Africans.
Since leaving Europe, Ronaldo has scored nine pretensions in 10 matches for Al Nassr.
He was replaced as the starting striker by Goncalo Ramos during the World Cup, with the Benfica youth scoring a chapeau- trick in a last- 16 palm over Switzerland.
But expert trainer Fernando Santos stepped down following the event and new master Roberto Martinez has incontinently put his faith in Ronaldo, who also captained the side.
There were questions over whether his 20- time transnational career had ended in Qatar as Ronaldo will be 39 by the time Euro 2024 kicks off.
But Martinez, who left his part as Belgium trainer after the World Cup, has explosively defended his decision to keep Ronaldo in the pack.
“To be in the public platoon, you have to be committed,” the Spaniard said on Thursday.
“It’s a new cycle. It’s veritably important that a player shows commitment and that he can use his experience.
“Cristiano has that a lot of experience and a lot of commitment to the public platoon.”
Portugal made the perfect launch to their qualification crusade with a straightforward palm against Liechtenstein.
Cancelo scored the only thing of the first half in the eighth nanosecond but the levees opened after the break.
Bernardo Silva doubled the advantage lower than two twinkles into the alternate period before Ronaldo pounded a penalty into the nethermost corner.
A important free- kick from the edge of the box flew through the hands of goalkeeper Benjamin Buchel to complete the scoring.
Ronaldo was substituted late on for Ramos, with the important anticipated changing of the guard put on the reverse burner.
Ronaldo adds the transnational appearance corner to an emotional list of individual records.
He’s the leading goal scorer in European Championship tests with 14 pretensions and has netted a record 140 times in the titleholders League.
Ronaldo has also finished as the top- arranger in three of Europe’s top five leagues– in England, Spain and Italy.
Portugal will visit Luxembourg in their alternate Group J qualifier on Sunday.
They’ve also been drawn alongside Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland and Slovakia. Know More Latest Football News…
