Cristiano Ronaldo equals world record for most international caps | Football News

NEW DELHI: Cristiano Ronaldo may have been ruled out Portugalthe starting line-up for the second consecutive game at fifa world cup but the star striker equaled the world record for most international caps of 196 when he appeared early in the second half in the quarter-final against Morocco on Saturday.
Ronaldo, 37, replaced midfielder Rúben Neves in the 51st minute for his 196th men’s international match, equaling the record set by Kuwaiti international Bader Al-Mutawa.

Ronaldo, playing in his fifth and likely last World Cup, also started on the bench and then came on for the round of 16 tie against Switzerland.
Gonçalo Ramos, who scored a hat trick on Tuesday in Portugal’s 6-1 win over Switzerland in his first start for Portugal, was again selected ahead of Ronaldo.
He was dropped from training against the Swiss after coach Fernando Santos expressed frustration with his team captain’s attitude in the previous game.
Santos later said Ronaldo was “not happy” to learn he was on the bench, but never threatened to quit the World Cup because of the move.
(With contributions from the agency)