New international record on Cristiano Ronaldo's horizon as he reports to Portugal duty

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Ronaldo has yet another record in his sights
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Cristiano Ronaldo (38) could claim the status of the most capped international footballer ever on Thursday if he is used by Roberto Martinez (49) in Portugal's clash with Liechtenstein at the start of Euro 2024 qualifying.

According to official FIFA figures, Ronaldo has now made 196 appearances for his national team, the same number that Bader Al-Mutawa (38), also a striker, has for Kuwait. However, the Al Qadsia player is certain to miss his country's forthcoming games after being left out by Kuwait coach Rui Bento (51).

Top of the list of international goalscorers with 118 goals after beating Iranian Ali Daei's (54) long-considered impossible figure, Ronaldo now has another opportunity to bolster his status in the pantheon of footballing gods. However, such a possibility comes at a time when his spot with the national team is as uncertain as ever.

Now playing in the Saudi Arabian league, Ronaldo lost his tag as an undisputed starter for Portugal at the last World Cup in Qatar, under former coach Fernando Santos (68), and his role with the new coach, the Spaniard Martinez, is yet to be revealed.

Should he feature in Martinez's plans, the striker has every chance of becoming the first player to reach 200 caps for a country, as well as strengthening his status as the top international scorer of all time. Argentina's Lionel Messi (35), two and a half years younger and Ronaldo's eternal rival, could pose a threat to that record in the long run, though.

The captain of Argentina, who recently celebrated winning the World Cup, has 172 caps for the South Americans (13th on the world list) and 98 goals, putting him in third place in the goalscorers' standings.

Ronaldo made his debut for the Portuguese national team in August 2003, in a friendly match against Kazakhstan (1-0), in Chaves, under the command of Brazilian Luiz Felipe Scolari (74). He reached the 100-match mark in October 2012, against Northern Ireland, in Porto, on the way to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.