After breaking the world record for the number of caps, Cristiano Ronaldo celebrated it with a brace against Liechtenstein (4-0). Including a new free kick.
Beautiful evening for Cristiano Ronaldo. A record and a double. Established this Thursday against Liechtenstein by the new coach of Portugal, Roberto Martinez, CR7 won the world record for the number of selections. With now 197 caps, Cristiano Ronaldo thus exceeded the Kuwaiti Bader Al-Mutawa who, at 38, is no longer selected.
Ronaldo unlocked on free kick?
The record for the number of goals in selection, the Portuguese already held it with 118 achievements before this meeting. That is already nine goals more than his runner-up, the Iranian Ali Daei, retired for several seasons. CR7 took advantage of the relative weakness of the evening’s opponent to score twice and bring his total to 120 goals.
While Portugal was quietly leading thanks to goals from Joao Cancelo (8th) and Bernardo Silva (47th), Cristiano Ronaldo first struck from the penalty spot (51st). Then it was on a free kick that he distinguished himself. If his strike, at the entrance to the surface, was powerful, the Liechtenstein goalkeeper, Benjamin Buchel (FC Vaduz), was not exempt from any reproach with hands that were not firm enough.
A new free kick achievement for Ronaldo after a long drought in this exercise. On March 18, the former Manchester United player struck in Al Nassr’s victory over Abha (2-1) in the Saudi league. Would CR7 have finally found the recipe on a free kick?