Cristiano Ronaldo: ‘I’m a better person now’

With his 197th international appearance, Cristiano Ronaldo has risen to become the sole record-breaking national team player. The 38-year-old Portuguese had previously shared the world record with striker Bader Al-Mutawa, who was the same age and made his 196th and last appearance for Kuwait in June 2022. “CR7” played at the start of the European Championship qualification in the 4-0 win against Liechtenstein in Lisbon up to the 78th minute and contributed his goals 119 and 120 (51st/penalty, 63rd) in the national jersey. This is also a world record.

“It’s such a good feeling to be back playing for our Selecao and scoring goals,” wrote Ronaldo, who now earns millions in Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr, on Instagram. He is “proud” of his records. It remains to be seen whether the superstar will also be in the starting eleven on Sunday in Luxembourg. The new national team coach Roberto Martinez could have other plans.

At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Ronaldo had to give up his regular place to up-and-coming Benfica striker Goncalo Ramos (21), who is 17 years his junior. Although Ronaldo’s two goals are a recommendation for further appearances, he has no guarantee – not least because his performance was rather colorless apart from the “double pack”.

The question will be whether Ronaldo can also come to terms with the reserve role. In any case, he accepted his substitution without grumbling.

“I’m grateful to have experienced some difficulties – not only as a player but also as a person. I’m a better person now,” Ronaldo said of his inglorious departure from Manchester United in November last year. “CR7” does not see the fact that he has now landed at Al-Nassr and thus disappeared from the public and media-effective day-to-day business in the European bel étage as a sporting relegation. “The Saudi Arabian league is strong, the local players are good, the foreign players are good,” said Ronaldo. “If the championship goes ahead with its plan, maybe in five or six years it will be the fourth or fifth strongest league in the world.”

“It means everything to me”

England’s team striker Harry Kane, who shot his “Three Lions” in the new edition of the 2021 European Championship final in Naples to a 2-1 victory over European champions Italy, also set a special scent. The 29-year-old captain converted a penalty to make it 2-0 in the 44th minute. In doing so, he set the course for the first full success of the British on Italian territory since 1961.

“I had a magical moment,” said Kane of his 54th goal in the England jersey. The Tottenham attacker surpassed a certain Wayne Rooney, who has 53 goals. “It means everything to me,” said Kane, who received a shirt with the number 54 and the words “Kane Record Breaker” from his teammates.

“It had to be a penalty. When the ball hit the net, it was a huge emotion for me,” explained Kane, who failed from an ominous point at the 2022 World Cup in the quarterfinals against France (1-2). England’s journey came to an end. Now “King Harry” has a high again. Much to the delight of Rooney, who dutifully congratulated: “Great man, incredible goalscorer and an England legend.”

Team boss Gareth Southgate was also full of praise: “The fact that Kane broke the record is a sign of his strength of character and mentality. He’s a brilliant professional.” Nevertheless, it was a nail-biter in which the Italians, whose proud run of 41 games without defeat in the European Championship qualifier broke, created a lot of pressure in the finish. That was in the spirit of team boss Roberto Mancini: “In the second half I saw a great Italian team, which bodes well for the future.” The latter also seems to be turning rosy for a former Sturm Graz attacker. Rasmus Höjlund (Atalanta Bergamo) scored three goals in Denmark’s 3-1 win over Finland. Hats off.