Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to appear in 200 international matches on Tuesday, scoring the game-winning goal in the 89th minute as Portugal defeated Iceland 1-0 in European Championship qualification.
Before the game began, Ronaldo, 38, received an honour from Guinness World Records for playing in 200 games for Portugal in the 20 years following his debut. After scoring the game-winning goal from close range to give Portugal its 4th victory in four Group J games, he was also celebrating at the final whistle of the match. This placed Portugal on track to qualify for Euro 2024.
Ronaldo also added to his international goal tally, scoring his 123rd for Portugal, making it yet another unforgettable night for the former Real Madrid and Manchester United star.
“So happy. It’s that kind of moment that you never expect to do it, 200 caps. For me it’s an unbelievable achievement,” Ronaldo told UEFA’s website. “Of course, to score the winning goal, it’s even more special.”
Ronaldo had missed many chances and was booked for diving in the 83rd minute before scoring from close range after Goncalo Inacio headed the ball down. Even then, there was a tense wait for a VAR review before Ronaldo could celebrate in his usual style.