Iceland 0-1 Portugal: CR7 scores late winner in 200th international appearance

Cristiano Ronaldo scored a stunning late goal as Portugal beat Iceland 1-0 on Tuesday to extend their perfect record in Euro 2024 qualifying Group J on an historic night for the forward who became the first player to make 200 international appearances.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

24' Palsson misses a good chance!

27' Yellow Card! Dalot booked

43' OFFSIDE! Ronaldo's header over the bar

46' Yellow Card! Finnbogason booked

50' CHANCE! Ronaldo's header over the bar

70' Yellow Card! Willum Thór Willumsson booked

80' Second Yellow Card! Willum Thór Willumsson sent off

89' GOAL! Iceland 0-1 Portugal (Ronaldo)

Match Report

Ronaldo already held the record for most international appearances when he surpassed Kuwaitas Bader Al-Mutawaas, who held the record of 196 matches, during Portugal's Euro 2024 qualifier against Liechtenstein in March.

Portugal struggled to break the deadlock against Iceland but stepped up the pressure after Willum Thor Willumsson was sent off for a second yellow card after a rough tackle on substitute Goncalo Inacio in the 81st minute.

Ronaldo had to wait two minutes to celebrate the winner as the referee first ruled out his close-range strike in the 89th minute for offside, but the goal was given after the VAR replay showed he was fractionally onside.

It was Ronaldo's 123rd goal for Portugal, extending his record as the all-time leading international goalscorer.

Before the game, Ronaldo was recognised for his achievement as he was presented with a Guinness World Records certificate.

Ahead of the game against Iceland, Ronaldo, as reported by ESPN, said: 'Two hundred games played proves the love I have for my country.

'For me it is an extremely important milestone. It means a lot. [Two hundred] is a beautiful number that [no men's player] has. I'm very proud because this is something I never thought I could reach. And I'm continuing to set records.'

At the World Cup in Qatar last year, Ronaldo became the first male player to score in five World Cups.

Tuesday's result left Portugal top with 12 points, two ahead of second-placed Slovakia, who won 1-0 away to Liechtenstein earlier on Tuesday.

Portugal started more aggressively but Iceland slowly took control and had two great chances to lead in the first half through defender Victor Palsson and full-back Hordur Magnusson.

But Portugal responded after the break and gradually got into the game, with Ronaldo's goal securing the points.

The side now seem destined to qualify for the Euros in Germany next year, and will have their eyes on winning their second title in three tournaments.

Line-ups

Iceland XI: Finnbogason, Gudmundsson, Magnusson, Victor Pálsson, S. Ingason, A. Traustason, Runarsson, Albert Gudmundsson, Willum Thór Willumsson, Jón Dagur Thorsteinsson, Valgeir Lunddal Fridriksson

Subs: B. Bjarnason, A. Gunnarsson, Daníel Leó Grétarsson, Alfons Sampsted, Saevar Atli Magnússon, Elías Rafn Ólafsson, Thórir Jóhann Helgason, Hákon Rafn Valdimarsson, Mikael Egill Ellertsson, Ísak Bergmann Jóhannesson, Hákon Arnar Haraldsson, Kristian Hlynsson

Portugal XI: Ronaldo, Pepe, Danilo Pereira, Cancelo, Neves, Bruno Fernandes, Ruben Dias, Bernardo, Diogo Costa, Dalot, Leao

Subs: Patricio, Guerreiro, Otávio, Jose Sa, Ricardo Horta, R.Sanches, Jota, Felix, Vitinha, Toti Gomes, Gonçalo Inácio, António Silva