11 October 2007, by Tom Kundert

Fifty-cap Cristiano Ronaldo continues to sprint towards greatness

Portuguese superstar on the road to smashing records

Cristiano Ronaldo will don the Portugal shirt for the fiftieth time next Saturday in his country’s Euro 2008 qualifier away to Azerbaijan.

Incredibly, the Manchester United superstar achieves the landmark at just 22 years of age. Barring injury Ronaldo looks certain to smash the records for both appearances (127, Figo) and goals (47, Pauleta) for the Portuguese national team.

But the ease with which Ronaldo picked up the baton from Figo as Portugal’s chief reference point and undisputed world-class performer should perhaps not be a surprise given the meteoric rise to fame of the former Sporting winger.

The Madeira-born player made his full Portugal debut as an 18-year-old in a friendly international against Kazakhstan on 20 August 2003, coming on for Figo at half time.

Ronaldo for Portugal

Debut: 20/08/2003 versus Kazakhstan
Appearances: 49
Goals: 19


One year later, Ronaldo, who had already capped a highly promising first season at Manchester United with a virtuoso man-of-the-match display in the FA Cup final, showcased his talents on the international arena as he enjoyed a magnificent 2004 European Championships.

The young star made telling contributions throughout the tournament as the hosts finished runners-up. After scoring as a substitute in the opening match against Greece, Ronaldo was selected in the starting line-up for the must-win third match against neighbours, Spain. He would never lose his place.

Since then Ronaldo has missed just four matches for Portugal, two of which friendlies, and quite probably the world’s most exciting player shone bright on the biggest stage of all as he helped propel Portugal to the semi-finals of the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

Goals galore

All the while, despite playing essentially as a winger, Ronaldo has found the net with astonishing regularity. His current tally stands at 19 goals.

Luiz Felipe Scolari will be hoping the wing sensation has added to that total by this time next week as Portugal look to obtain six points from their Euro 2008 qualification double header against Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan.

Two wins will go a long way to giving the golden boy of Portuguese football another platform upon which to dazzle his legion worldwide fans, in Austria and Switzerland next summer.