Most international football appearances: Cristiano Ronaldo tops… – Olympic Games

Cristiano Ronaldo continues to add to his slew of men’s records international soccer.

The Portuguese star has scored the most goals, has the most hat-tricks and has accomplished various other feats.

Ronaldo made his international debut for Portugal in 2003, so it’s no surprise that the prolific goalscorer also holds the World Cup record. most international appearances in men’s soccer.

In March 2023, during the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifiers, Cristiano Ronaldo surpassed Kuwait’s Bader Al-Mutawa’s record of 196 caps during Portugal’s match against Liechtenstein.

On June 20, 2023, Cristiano Ronaldo became the first men’s soccer player to earn 200 caps when he took the pitch in Portugal’s UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying match against Iceland.

Bader Al-Mutawa, who like Ronaldo was born in 1985 and also made his international debut in 2003, had broken the record for most international appearances in soccer previously set by Malaysia’s Soh Chin Ann in June 2022.

Al-Mutawa’s tally could have been much higher if Kuwait had not been suspended from international football twice (2007-08 and 2015-17) for administrative reasons.

The Kuwaiti striker’s record didn’t even last a year as Ronaldo surpassed it in March 2023.

In contrast, Soh Chin Ann’s record of 195 caps stood for 37 years and eight months. The Malaysian played his last match for his country in October 1984.

Some statistics, however, show that Soh Chin Ann, a defender, played 219 caps for his country, but only 195 of those were FIFA-recognized internationals. His first match was during the 1969 Copa del Rey in Thailand.

Meanwhile, England’s Billy Wright was the first footballer to make 100 international appearances. He played his last match in 1959, finishing with a total of 105 caps for his country.

There are over 500 players who have played over 100 matches for their country.

Most International Soccer Appearances: Men

The number of women who have played at least 100 football matches for their country is around 400.

However, while Cristiano Ronaldo will be the first man to earn 200 caps, there are 26 women who have already passed the milestone. Four women, in fact, have played more than 300 matches for their country.

The overall record of the most international football appearances is held by Kristine Lilly of the United States women’s soccer team. She represented her country in a whopping 354 matches between 1987 and 2010.

Kristine Lilly is a World Cup winner and has won two gold medals at the Olympics. She retired in 2010.

Canadian Christine Sinclair is followed by six more Americans. Carli Lloyd and Christie Pearce are the other two players who have more than 300 caps.

Most International Soccer Appearances: Women