CRISTIANO RONALDO is closing in on the world record for most international goals – now just three goals adrift of Iran legend Ali Daei.
The Portugal superstar, 36, has scored an incredible 106 times in 176 games, including two in his nation’s Euro 2020 opener – the 3-0 win over Hungary.
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It’s been a phenomenal career for the Juventus man, for club and country.
Ronaldo kicked-off his senior club career with Sporting Lisbon in the 2002-03.
And he made his international debut in the summer of 2003, coming off the bench in a 1-0 win over Kazakhastan.
In a far cry from his now-global appeal, Ronaldo replaced Luis Figo for the second half in front of just 8,000 fans in Chaves.
But who started that game in August 2003 – and where are they now?
GOALKEEPER – Ricardo
THE 79-cap international retired in 2014 after spells at Sporting, Real Betis and Leicester.
Ricardo now owns an Algarve-based real estate company.
RIGHT-BACK – Miguel Monteiro
THEN at Benfica, Monteiro quickly established himself as one of the hottest prospects in Europe, with Spanish giants Valencia winning the race to sign him in 2005.
Seven years later, Monteiro was released at the age of 32 with no suitors.
The right-back started training again in 2014 in a bid to find a new home, but nothing ever came of it.
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CENTRE-BACK – Fernando Meira
In 2003, Meira was a year into his time at Stuttgart and would help lead the German side to an improbable Bundesliga crown in 2006-07.
The defender also played for Galatasaray, Zenit St Petersburg and Real Zaragoza before terminating his contract and retiring in February 2012 with his side bottom of LaLiga.
CENTRE-BACK – Fernando Couto
ALREADY well into the twilight of his career for Ronaldo’s debut, Couto had already turned out for European giants Porto, Parma and Barcelona.
In 2003, Couto was at Lazio, where he remained until 2005 – when he rejoined Parma.
The 110-cap international retired in 2008 at the age of 39 and later went on to serve as Braga’s assistant manager between 2012 and 2014.
LEFT-BACK – Rui Jorge
JORGE spent his entire 15-year playing career in Portugal with Porto, Sporting and Belenenses.
After retiring, the 45-cap international moved into management – briefly taking charge of Belenenses in 2009.
Since 2010, Jorge has been head coach of Portugal’s Under-21s and even led his nation’s Olympic side at Rio 2016, where they reached the quarter-finals, before losing to Germany.
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DEFENSIVE MIDFIELD – Costinha
PLAYING for Porto at the time of Ronaldo’s Portugal debut, the hardman had already turned out for Monaco earlier in his career and would later feature for Atletico Madrid, Dynamo Moscow and Atalanta.
The 53-cap midfielder retired in 2010 after just one match in three years at the Serie A side before moving into coaching.
Costinha managed Beira-Mar and Pacos Ferriera briefly in 2013, before taking on the job at Academica.
He also served as Nacional manager between 2017 and 2019.
CENTRE-MID – Deco
A LEGEND of the game, the 75-cap Portugal ace starred for Barcelona, Chelsea and Porto, among others, during his sensational career.
Since retiring, Deco has set up his own agency – with the likes of Liverpool star Fabinho on his books – while also working as an ambassador for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation.
Deco also hosts an annual charity football game in Brazil.
CENTRE-MID – Rui Costa
ALONGSIDE Deco in the heart of midfield, Costa helped form part of an iconic squad in the early 00s.
The legend of the game most-famously played for Fiorentina, AC Milan and Benfica, while earning 94 international caps.
He scored an extra-time stunner against England in a quarter-final penalty shoot-out win at Euro 2004.
Since retiring, Costa has returned to Benfica – where he enjoyed two spells as a player – where he now works as sporting director.
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RIGHT-WING – Luis Figo
ANOTHER football legend in a star-studded team, Figo enjoyed world-class spells at Sporting, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Inter Milan – playing over 100 times for all four giants, winning a combined 22 major trophies.
The 127-cap international is now a Uefa advisor and Inter ambassador having failed to win the 2015 Fifa presidential election.
LEFT-WING – Hugo Viana
THE then-Newcastle star spent four years at St James’ Park before moving to Valencia in 2006 and later heading home to Portugal with Braga.
Viana finished off his career in the Middle East with Al-Ahli and Al-Wasl before retiring in 2016.
The 29-cap international is now director at Portuguese side Belenenses.
STRIKER – Pauleta
WITH 47 goals in 88 international games, only Ronaldo has scored more for Portugal.
Pauleta most-famously played for Deportivo La Coruna, Bordeaux and Paris Saint-Germain before retiring in 2008.
The striker briefly made a comeback in 2010 aged 37, scoring twice in one game for amateur outfit Sao Roque before quickly calling it quits again.
He is now an ambassador for PSG’s academy and Fifa ambassador for the SOS Children’s Villages.
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SUBS
Bruno Vale – Also made his Portugal debut against Kazakhstan but never played for his country again, spending most of his career in Cyprus.
Jorge Andrade – The former Porto, Deportivo La Coruna and Juventus defender retired in 2015 before moving into management.
Nuno Valente – The ex-Everton left-back moved into coaching after retiring but lost five of his six matches in his only job, in the Portuguese third tier.
Maniche – The Portugal icon retired in 2011 before taking on managerial roles at Pacos de Ferreira and Academica.
Simao – Scored 22 times in 85 games for his country with the ex-Barcelona and Atletico Madrid winger now head of international relations at another former club, Benfica.
Helder Postiga – Scored just once for Tottenham after his £10million move from Porto in 2003 before embarking on a journeyman’s career across the globe. Came back to haunt England with an extra-time goal at Euro 2004 to KO the Three Lions in the quarter-finals..
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