Spain captain Sergio Ramos last night broke the record for most appearances for his country in an outfield position after they drew 1-1 with Norway in Euro 2020 qualifying.
Winning his 168th cap means he passes out Iker Casillas as the most capped player for Spain. Only Gianluigi Buffon won more caps for his country in Europe - making 176 appearances for Italy during his international career from 1997 to 2018.
The Real Madrid centre-back Ramos first made a senior appearance for the Spanish team in 2005, in a 3-0 friendly win over China. At the time he was the youngest player to pull on a jersey for La Roja - a record broken the following year by Cesc Fabregas.
"All that is personal is a little secondary. I would have happily traded this 168th cap for a victory," said Ramos after achieving the milestone.
"It was not the case. But this record is a great reward after so many years and it's a great source of huge pride.
"I am emotional every time I put on this shirt. That will not change and I hope to continue doing so for many years."
View this post on Instagram
A former teammate at Real Madrid, David Beckham has been one of the people leading tributes to Ramos, in an Instagram video, he said, "This is an incredible moment for you. I just wanted to send you a message because you've played 168 games for your country.
"You must be very proud. Your family must be very proud. It's an incredible moment, passing Iker.
"So, I'm very happy for you and your family. Congratulations my friend, a kiss for you. Enjoy the night.
"Lots of love my friend and congratulations."
The 1-1 draw in Oslo last night means the Spanish team only needs to record a draw against Sweden in Stockholm on Tuesday to ensure they get to next summer's Euro 2020 finals.
Download the brand new OffTheBall App in the Play Store & App Store right now! We've got you covered!
Subscribe to OffTheBall's YouTube channel for more videos, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for the latest sporting news and content.
