Cristiano Ronaldo matches Portugal legend Luis Figo on 127 international caps with the Euro 2016 group match with Iceland
SunSport looks back at their international debuts, their reigns as captains, their biggest milestones and their goals
PORTUGAL hero Cristiano Ronaldo collected his 127th international cap against Iceland at Euro 2016 on Tuesday night.
In doing so he drew level with Luis Figo, the previous king of Portuguese football who quit international football after turning out for the 127th time.
Here SunSport looks at their contributions to their national side as the former Manchester United man aims to surpass his great predecessor’s achievements and help his national win a major tournament.
Debuts
Ronaldo: Portugal 1-0 Kazakhstan - August 2003
In an incredible month for the 18-year-old, Ronaldo starred for Sporting when they defeated Manchester United 3–1 at the opening of the Estadio Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon.
Sir Alex Ferguson swiftly snapped him up for £12.24million, making him the most expensive teenager in English football history.
On August 16th he made his Premier League debut in the 4-0 win over Bolton and four days later he made his international bow.
Big Phil Scolari made four subs at half time, making it difficult to know who exactly was going on for who, but Luis Figo was one of the players withdrawn to make way for the new kid on the block. Substitute Simao grabbed the second-half winner in the friendly. But the game will be remembered for the introduction of a future legend.
Figo: Luxembourg 1-1 Portugal - October 1991
Aged just 18 Luis Figo made his debut for his national side in 1991, a few months after helping his side win the World Youth Championship by scoring in the penalty shoot-out final against Brazil alongside future star Rui Costa.
To add pressure that would be familiar England players and fans, Figo was charged with being the leader of his side’s ‘Golden Generation' from then on
First Goal
Ronaldo: Portugal 1-2 Greece - 12 June 2004
Just a year after making his debut, Ronaldo was trying to save his side on the biggest stages. In the first Group A match of Euro 2004 against hosts and eventual winners Greece, the Manchester United starlet started on the bench.
But, after 45 minutes, he was called up and almost rescued things for his side. In the 93rd minute of the match the forward announced his arrival on the major-tournament stage with a consolation strike in the 2-1 loss
Figo: Portugal 2-1 Bulgaria - 11 November 1992.
Just seven days after his 20th birthday, Figo grabbed his first international goal. His equaliser against Bulgaria in a friendly in neutral Paris helped his side go on to win.
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Captaincy
Ronaldo
At the tender age of 22, Ronaldo had endured a difficult 2006 World Cup. It started so well with his first World Cup goal against Iran in the second match of the group stage.
But controversy was waiting around the corner. In the quarter-finals against England, his Manchester United team-mate Wayne Rooney was sent off for stamping on international team-mate Ricardo Carvalho.
To make matters worse, the winger appeared to be photographed winking at his side’s bench to celebrate England being reduced to ten men. The youngster came in for serious abuse and was booed during their 1–0 semi-final defeat to France and FIFA's Technical Study Group rejected him for the tournament's Best Young Player award because of his behaviour against Rooney & Co.
But after the World Cup, one day after his 22nd birthday, Ronaldo captained Portugal for the first time in a friendly game against Brazil on 6 February 2007.
He was given the armband as requested by Portuguese Football Federation president Carlos Silva, who had died two days earlier.
Figo
The playmaker given the honour of leading is country on 2 June 2001 against the Republic of Ireland at Lansdowne Road in a World Cup qualifier. The change in status came on his 74th cap and, inspired by his new-found responsibility, he scored the equaliser for a 1–1 draw.
Despite having no trophies to show for Portugal’s era of promise, Figo managed to captain the team to their best World Cup performance – the semi-finals finish in 2006 - since the Eusebio era in 1966 when the Black Pearl’s side visited England.
100th cap
Ronaldo aged 27
Portugal 1-1 Northern Ireland, 16 October 2012
Ronaldo become the second-youngest European of all time to play 100 games for his country, after Germany's Lukas Podolski, with his performance in the 2018 World Cup qualifier. But the night was all about Ireland who produced a heroic performance against the side then rated third in the world
Figo aged 31
Portugal 1-1 England, 18 February 2004
Figo earned his 100th cap in the 1–1 friendly draw with England at the Estadio Algarve, playing as captain despite regular skipper Fernando Couto being in the starting line-up.
In doing so he become only the second Portuguese player, after Fernando Couto, to win 100 caps until Ronaldo raced up behind him.
Goals
Ronaldo has already hit 58 goals with swerving free-kicks, towering headers and vicious shots.
His prolific goalscoring stats for club and country have him on par with Lionel Messi at the top of world football
Figo retired from international football with 32 goals to his name that is etched into Portuguese history.
His flair and style may not match the freakish figures Ronaldo has hit, and continues to reach, but his legacy is secure.
