Cristiano Ronaldo He set a new career record by playing the match number on Thursday. 197 with the Portuguese team, which makes him the absolute most engaged player.

Cristiano, 38, returned this Thursday to represent his country in the Spanish duel between Portugal and Liechtenstein in Lisbon. Roberto Martinez He put him as a starter and beat Kuwait’s Bader Al Mutawa.

Al Mutawa, also 38, is still active, but was not called up by Portugal’s Rui Bento, Kuwait’s new coach, which coincided with his days playing with a young Cristiano in Sporting de Portugal.

At the pre-match press conference Cristiano Ronaldo said that achieving this feat would make him feel “quite proud”.

“Records? Let’s go to them, let’s go! I like to break records. (…) It is also special that it is the most international in history. “I have to admit that this is something that makes me quite proud,” he said.

Moreover, “I would like to have many more matches with the national team ahead of me in my career.‘ he assured.

This mark expands the long list of records: the all-time top scorer with 828 goals; elections with 118; and the Champions League with 140.

He is also the player with the most appearances in the “Champions” with 183, beating Spain’s Iker Casillas 177 or Argentina’s Leo Messi’s 163, among many other achievements.

After a tough time at Manchester United and the turbulent World Cup in Qatar, Cristiano seems to have recovered his form at his current club, Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr, where he has scored 9 goals in 10 matches.