<P> A Portuguese international , Ronaldo was named the best Portuguese player of all - time by the Portuguese Football Federation in 2015 . Ronaldo made his senior international debut in August 2003 , at age 18 . He is Portugal 's most capped player of all - time with over 140 caps , and has participated in seven major tournaments . He is Portugal 's all - time top goalscorer . He scored his first international goal at Euro 2004 and helped Portugal reach the final . He took over full captaincy in July 2008 , leading Portugal to their first - ever triumph in a major tournament by winning Euro 2016 , and received the Silver Boot as the second - highest goalscorer of the tournament . One of the most marketable sportsmen , he was ranked the world 's highest - paid athlete by Forbes in 2016 and 2017 , as well as the world 's most famous athlete by ESPN in 2016 and 2017 . </P>
<P> A Portuguese international , Ronaldo was named the best Portuguese player of all - time by the Portuguese Football Federation in 2015 . Ronaldo made his senior international debut in August 2003 , at age 18 . He is Portugal 's most capped player of all - time with over 140 caps , and has participated in seven major tournaments . He is Portugal 's all - time top goalscorer . He scored his first international goal at Euro 2004 and helped Portugal reach the final . He took over full captaincy in July 2008 , leading Portugal to their first - ever triumph in a major tournament by winning Euro 2016 , and received the Silver Boot as the second - highest goalscorer of the tournament . One of the most marketable sportsmen , he was ranked the world 's highest - paid athlete by Forbes in 2016 and 2017 , as well as the world 's most famous athlete by ESPN in 2016 and 2017 . </P>
when did cristiano ronaldo started playing for portugal
when did cristiano ronaldo started playing for portugal
August 2003
August 2003