RONALDO -MESSI- REGISTERS : MASTER HONOURS

 

Lisbon : Ronaldo registers new international record. The Portuguese star striker bags most caps with 197th appearance for the country.

Cristiano Ronaldo broke the men's international appearance record on Thursday and marked the occasion by scoring twice in Portugal's 4-0 thrashing of Liechtenstein in Euro 2024 qualifying.

The 38-year-old, who was dropped from the Portuguese first choice XI during the World Cup in Qatar last year, won a 197th cap for his country in Lisbon as a starter.

He netted a 51st-minute penalty after earlier goals from Joao Cancelo and Bernardo Silva, before drilling home a free-kick 12 minutes later.

It was Ronaldo's record-extending 120th goal for his country and made him the first man to score 100 times in competitive internationals.

''Records are my motivation,'' Ronaldo had told reporters on Wednesday.

''I want to become the most capped player in history.That would make me proud. ''But it doesn't stop there, I still want to be called up very often.''

Buenos Aires : Messi strike tops off Argentina's celebration. The star forward celebrates World Cup winners' homecoming with 800th career goal.

Lionel Messi capped a night of unbridled joy with the 800th goal of his career as world champions Argentina celebrated their homecoming with a 2-0 friendly victory over stubborn Panama in Buenos Aires on Thursday.

The 35-year-old seven time Ballon d'Or winner's stunning free-kick in the dying minutes came after 21-year-old MLS sensation Thiago Almada gave a glimpse of what the future holds with his first goal for the national team in only his third appearance.

It was an emotional night as fireworks crackled overhead before kick-off at the impressive Monumental stadium where the 83,000 lucky fans that managed to get tickets among the more than 1.5 million people who  tried, created an electric atmosphere.

Messi, coach Lionel Scaloni and numerous players came onto the pitch with their children and several seemed on the brink of tears as fans in unison sung ''Muchachos'', the anthem of Argentina's victorious World Cup campaign in Qatar. [AFP]