<P> A Portuguese international , Ronaldo was named the best Portuguese player of all time by the Portuguese Football Federation in 2015 . He made his senior debut for Portugal in 2003 at age 18 , and has since had over 150 caps , including appearing and scoring in eight major tournaments , becoming Portugal 's most capped player and his country '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 , before becoming the highest European international goalscorer of all - time . One of the most marketable athletes in the world , 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 , 2017 and 2018 . </P>
<P> A Portuguese international , Ronaldo was named the best Portuguese player of all time by the Portuguese Football Federation in 2015 . He made his senior debut for Portugal in 2003 at age 18 , and has since had over 150 caps , including appearing and scoring in eight major tournaments , becoming Portugal 's most capped player and his country '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 , before becoming the highest European international goalscorer of all - time . One of the most marketable athletes in the world , 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 , 2017 and 2018 . </P>
when did ronaldo make his debut for portugal
when did ronaldo make his debut for portugal
2003
2003