Cristiano Ronaldo is set to break a new record for the most international appearances by any player in the history of any national team. If he plays in Portugal’s match on Thursday, he will reach 197 matches, surpassing the previous record of 196 matches held by Kuwait’s Bader Al-Mutawa. Al-Mutawa played his last match on June 14, 2022.

Ronaldo’s 197th international game will be against Liechtenstein, assuming he is included in Roberto Martinez’s lineup. Although it is unclear whether he will start or come on as a substitute, it is likely that he will feature in the match.

Other players in the top ten list of most international appearances include Soh Chin An from Malaysia with 195 matches, Sergio Ramos from Spain with 180 matches, and Gigi Buffon from Italy with 176 matches.

Ronaldo made his international debut on August 20, 2003, and his most recent game was on December 10, 2022, during the World Cup in Qatar. He is expected to continue playing and aims to reach 200 matches, with his sights set on participating in Euro 2024 in Germany.