Sport: Soccer Country: United States Category: Scores & Results

Cristiano Ronaldo sets record for most international caps in men's football

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Oct 6, 2026, 10:38 AM

Last updated Oct 6, 2026

Cristiano Ronaldo sets record for most international caps in men's football

Summary

Cristiano Ronaldo reached 234 international caps for Portugal, the highest in men's football, surpassing Bader Al-Mutawa's previous record of 196. The list shows Lionel Messi with 207 caps and Luka Modric with 205, both of whom could potentially join Ronaldo in the 200-cap club at the 2026 World Cup. Meanwhile, Kristine Lilly leads women's international football with 354 caps, far surpassing the men's record. The rankings reflect a significant gap between men's and women's football in terms of international appearances.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

By the Numbers

•Ronaldo has 234 caps for Portugal as of October 6, 2026.
•Lionel Messi and Luka Modric follow with 207 and 205 caps, respectively.
•Bader Al-Mutawa previously held the record with 196 caps.
•Kristine Lilly is the all-time leader in women's football with 354 caps.
•Seven of the top ten women's players in caps are from the USA.

Latest Updates

10:38 AMYahoo Sports — Who has the most international caps ever? Cristiano Ronaldo boasts another record in men's football

What they're saying

"
Playing for your country is one of the highest honours for any footballer and some have managed it more times than they might have imagined.
— Yahoo Sports

Related Teams & Leagues

Soccer