Cristiano Ronaldo broke the record for the highest number of international appearances after scoring twice on his 197th cap for Portugal in their 4-0 win over Liechtenstein in the Euro 2024 qualifying.

The 38-year-old, who was dropped from the Portuguese first-choice XI during the World Cup in Qatar last year, won a 197th cap for his country in Lisbon as a starter.

He netted a 51st-minute penalty after earlier goals from Joao Cancelo and Bernardo Silva, before drilling home a free-kick 12 minutes later.

It was Ronaldo’s 120th goal for his country, which set a new record. He was also the first person to score 100 goals in competitive international games.

“Records are my motivation,” Ronaldo had told reporters on Wednesday.

“I want to become the most capped player in history. That would make me proud.

“But it doesn’t stop there, I still want to be called up very often.”

Ronaldo made his international debut in 2003 and became the first man to score in five World Cups last year before Portugal lost to Morocco in the quarter-finals.

After his second time at Manchester United ended badly, he is now playing for Saudi club Al Nassr.

Bader Al-Mutawa of Kuwait held the record of 196 caps before Ronaldo tied it when he came off the bench in the loss to Morocco.

He left the pitch in tears following Portugal’s shock 1-0 loss against the North Africans.

Since leaving Europe, Ronaldo has scored nine goals in 10 matches for Al Nassr.

During the World Cup, Goncalo Ramos took his place as the starting striker. Ramos, a young player from Benfica, scored a hat trick in a win over Switzerland in the round of 16.

Photo by EPA/MIGUEL A. LOPES