Ronaldo Sets New Record as Europe's Most-Capped Player

Cristiano Ronaldo has added to his record as the most-capped men's international player in Europe. He now has 234 appearances for Portugal.

He achieved this milestone during Portugal’s 1-0 victory over Wales in their UEFA Nations League Group D opener.

The 41-year-old star made history by being the first player to reach 200 international appearances. He did this when he played against Iceland in June 2023, scoring the winning goal in the 89th minute.

Ronaldo had already set the European record when he earned his 197th cap against Liechtenstein on March 23, 2023, and scored two goals in that match.

He increased his total to 199 against Bosnia and Herzegovina in UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying on June 17, 2023, before hitting the 200 mark three days later against Iceland.

Ronaldo broke the previous European record of 180 appearances, held by Spain’s Sergio Ramos, in 2021. His game against Morocco in the 2022 FIFA World Cup quarter-finals allowed him to equal Bader Al-Mutawa’s then-world record of 196 caps for Kuwait.

Since then, Ronaldo has moved further ahead of the European record.

This information was shared in an updated release on Friday on the Nations League website.

Europe’s Most-Capped Men’s International Players

234: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)

Ronaldo is also Europe's top international goalscorer. He went past the 100-goal mark in September 2020. He matched Ali Daei’s world record of 109 goals during Euro 2020 and surpassed it during the European Qualifiers on September 1, 2021.

He scored his 144th, 145th, and 146th international goals in summer 2026, becoming the first player to score in six World Cup final tournaments.

202: Luka Modrić (Croatia)

Modrić surpassed his long-time teammate Darijo Srna to become Croatia’s most-capped player in March 2021. His wife, Vanja, asked him, “When will you stop playing?” He replied, “I don’t know, my love. You’ll have to be patient.”

180: Sergio Ramos (Spain)

Ramos broke Gianluigi Buffon’s previous European record of 176 caps while playing for Spain in their UEFA Nations League game in Switzerland on November 14, 2020. He became the youngest European man to hit 100 caps at age 26 in March 2013. Ramos won two UEFA European Championship titles and one World Cup.

He retired in February 2023 after not playing for Spain since March 2021.

176: Gianluigi Buffon (Italy)

A winner of the 2006 World Cup with Italy, Buffon made his last appearance for the Azzurri in a March 2018 friendly against Argentina. He surpassed Dino Zoff’s national record of 112 caps in 2011. Buffon said, “When I made my Italy debut back in 1997, getting to this total was just a dream for me.”

168: Robert Lewandowski (Poland)

The 37-year-old striker reached 150 caps in Poland’s 2-1 victory over Türkiye in their last friendly before Euro 2024. He has played in four Euro final tournaments, scoring in all of them, including three goals at Euro 2020.

167: Iker Casillas (Spain)

Casillas, a former Real Madrid goalkeeper, described his experience playing for Spain as “Responsibility. Pride. Satisfaction. Happiness. Commitment. Respect for those who preceded me.” He won two European Championship titles and a World Cup with Spain.

166: Vitālijs Astafjevs (Latvia)

“I love football and have always loved it,” said Astafjevs after playing his farewell international at age 39 in November 2010. His peak came when he represented Latvia at Euro 2004. He said, “We worked a miracle, everyone was amazed. That was true happiness.”

159: Konstantin Vassiljev (Estonia)

Vassiljev retired in November 2024 after a career that included stints in Slovenia, Russia, and Poland. He scored 14 league goals in the 2023 season, his highest since 2006, even after turning 39.

158: Ivan Perišić (Croatia)

At 37, Perišić is still scoring goals and providing assists. He has been a key player for Croatia since his debut in 2011. He holds Croatia’s record for most goals and assists in major tournaments.

157: Jan Vertonghen (Belgium)

The former Ajax and Tottenham defender returned to Belgium in 2022, joining Anderlecht after two years at Benfica. He debuted for Belgium in June 2007 against Portugal. Vertonghen helped Belgium qualify for Euro 2024 before retiring after a loss to France in the round of 16.

156: Martin Reim (Estonia)

Reim, who made his farewell appearance at age 38 in 2009, said, “There is no way I could go on playing until I die.” He spent most of his club career in Estonia and managed the national team from 2016 to 2019.

152: Granit Xhaka (Switzerland)

Xhaka played in his fourth World Cup in 2026 and has also appeared in three European Championships.

151: Christian Eriksen (Denmark)

Eriksen was first capped at 18 in March 2010, shortly after debuting for Ajax. He became a key player for Denmark but suffered a cardiac arrest during Euro 2020. He returned to football in March 2022 and became Denmark’s most-capped player during Euro 2024.

151: Edin Džeko (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Džeko scored his first international goal on his debut in 2007. He helped Bosnia and Herzegovina qualify for their first World Cup in 2014. He has been the country’s captain for over a decade and is its all-time leading scorer.

Džeko also helped Bosnia and Herzegovina qualify for a second World Cup with a victory over Italy in 2026.

150: Lothar Matthäus (West Germany/Germany)

A European champion in 1980 and World Cup winner ten years later, Matthäus played in two eras of German football. He later took on a sweeper role and was praised by Diego Maradona, who said, “He is the best rival I’ve ever faced.”

Players marked with an asterisk have not yet retired from international football.

Data is correct as of September 25, 2026.