Cristiano Ronaldo is poised to become the most-capped player in men's international football history on Thursday, as the superstar returns to action with Portugal.
Having missed out on breaking the record during the recent World Cup finals in Qatar, Ronaldo will make his 197th appearance for Portugal should new manager Roberto Martinez select him for their Euro 2024 qualifying opener at home to Liechtenstein. Following a substitute appearance during his nation's surprise World Cup quarter-final defeat by Morocco in December, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner tied with Kuwait striker Bader Al-Mutawa on 196 caps.
Al-Mutawa is still active but hasn't been called up ahead of Kuwait's upcoming round of fixtures in Asia, giving Ronaldo the opportunity to move ahead of his fellow 38-year-old forward.
The game against Liechtenstein will also mark the former Manchester United hero's first international appearance since signing for Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr. Ronaldo left United to move to the Middle East late last year after publicly slamming the club and falling out with manager Erik ten Hag.
With the controversy behind him, the ex- Real Madrid and Juventus talisman has scored nine goals in his first eight games for Al-Nassr, rampant form which earned him a call from Martinez. The Spanish boss, who was sacked by Belgium after six years in charge following the World Cup, succeeded Fernando Santos in January and hopes to count on Ronaldo.
"Cristiano Ronaldo is a very committed player," Martinez, who hasn't confirmed whether or not Ronaldo will remain as Portugal's captain, told a press conference ahead. "He can bring experience and is a very important figure for the team. I don't look at age."
Have your say! Will Ronaldo last long in Martinez's Portugal setup? Give us your verdict in the comments section.
Also this week, Ronaldo's personal advisor, Ricardo Regufe, announced that he was leaving his role with the Portuguese national team after 20 years, and is understood to be focussing on his client's business in Saudi Arabia. "It was an honour and a privilege to have served my country as a member of the national team entourage for two decades," Regufe wrote on Instagram.
"I've lived unforgettable moments and made lifelong friends. To watch closely the national team win the two major trophies it has won to date and witness Cristiano Ronaldo's consecration as the best player in the world. I thank the players, coaches and staff for everything we experience together. A new stage begins but the desire to see our national team win is always the same!"
Portugal will face Liechtenstein in Lisbon on Thursday before travelling to face Luxembourg on Sunday. Their qualifying group also contains Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland and Slovakia.
If Ronaldo were to feature at the tournament in Germany next summer, he'd become the first player to represent his nation at six European Championships. He already holds the record by appearing in five different Euros.
