The 20-year-old came off the bench in the 86th minute of Switzerland's 3-0 win over North Macedonia in Skopje, replacing Zeki Amdouni to make his senior international debut.
Boteli spent three years at Borussia Monchengladbach after impressing in the club's youth system, but his development slowed with the second team. Gladbach subsequently sent him on loan to Sion at the start of last season, with the Swiss club given a €3.5 million purchase option.
Sion exercised that option this summer, bringing Boteli's Gladbach spell to an end.
The decision has since looked increasingly costly. Galatasaray reportedly offered more than €30 million for the right-footed striker during the summer, but Sion rejected the proposal.
Boteli has continued to justify that confidence this season, scoring 13 goals and providing five assists in his first 15 matches.
The striker is aware of the scale of his rise but admitted that even he had not expected it to happen so quickly.
“I want that record. But that it could happen so quickly? I didn't expect that,” Boteli told Blick.
A move for more than €30 million would have made Boteli the record transfer from the Swiss Super League, although Sion currently have no intention of selling him.
Gladbach did at least protect themselves with a 10 per cent sell-on clause when Boteli departed, meaning the Bundesliga club would benefit financially from any future transfer.
Given their current problems, however, the sporting implications may be harder to ignore. Gladbach could certainly use a prolific centre-forward of Boteli's profile, but the striker is now focused on the next stage of his career.
His ambitions extend well beyond Switzerland.
“My idols weren't Swiss, but the best players in the world. Like Kylian Mbappé,” Boteli said.
His Switzerland debut is another indication of how quickly his career has accelerated. For Gladbach, it is a reminder that the €3.5 million decision that appeared straightforward at the time may ultimately prove far more significant.