An internal combustion engine having a discharge line for exhaust gases, having an exhaust-gas recirculation line which is connected in terms of flow to the discharge line and which conducts at least a part of the exhaust gas into an air distributor line, wherein said air distributor line supplies air to the working elements of the internal combustion engine, having a first exhaust-gas turbocharging device and having a second exhaust-gas turbocharging device, wherein - the first exhaust-gas turbocharging device and the second exhaust-gas turbocharging device are arranged in series with respect to a supply line for charge air, - the internal combustion engine has a third exhaust-gas turbocharging device which is arranged in parallel with the second exhaust-gas turbocharging device and, with respect to the supply line for charge air, in series with the first exhaust-gas turbocharging device, - the second exhaust-gas turbocharging device and the third exhaust-gas turbocharging device are activatable and deactivatable independently of one another, - between the exhaust-gas recirculation line and the second and third exhaust-gas turbocharging devices (24, 26), there is arranged in each case one valve device (34, 36) for controlling the supply of exhaust gas into the exhaust-gas turbocharging devices (24, 26), - the internal combustion engine has a control device which controls the supply of exhaust gases to the second and third exhaust-gas turbocharging devices (24, 26) in a manner dependent on operating characteristics of the internal combustion engine during working operation, - in the exhaust-gas recirculation line, there is provided a valve device by means of which the supply of exhaust gas into the air distributor line can be controlled, - the control device is configured so as to control the supply of exhaust gases into the second and third exhaust-gas turbocharging devices (24, 26) in a manner dependent on the supply of exhaust gas into the air distributor line, characterized in that - the second exhaust-gas turbocharging device and the third exhaust-gas turbocharging device are of different sizes, wherein - the exhaust-gas recirculation line branches off upstream of the second and third exhaust-gas turbocharging devices (24, 26), which are arranged in parallel, and opens in downstream of the second and third exhaust-gas turbocharging devices (24, 26), which are arranged in parallel. - the first exhaust-gas turbocharging device and the second exhaust-gas turbocharging device are arranged in series with respect to a supply line for charge air, - the internal combustion engine has a third exhaust-gas turbocharging device which is arranged in parallel with the second exhaust-gas turbocharging device and, with respect to the supply line for charge air, in series with the first exhaust-gas turbocharging device, - the second exhaust-gas turbocharging device and the third exhaust-gas turbocharging device are activatable and deactivatable independently of one another, - between the exhaust-gas recirculation line and the second and third exhaust-gas turbocharging devices (24, 26), there is arranged in each case one valve device (34, 36) for controlling the supply of exhaust gas into the exhaust-gas turbocharging devices (24, 26), - the internal combustion engine has a control device which controls the supply of exhaust gases to the second and third exhaust-gas turbocharging devices (24, 26) in a manner dependent on operating characteristics of the internal combustion engine during working operation, - in the exhaust-gas recirculation line, there is provided a valve device by means of which the supply of exhaust gas into the air distributor line can be controlled, - the control device is configured so as to control the supply of exhaust gases into the second and third exhaust-gas turbocharging devices (24, 26) in a manner dependent on the supply of exhaust gas into the air distributor line, characterized in that - the second exhaust-gas turbocharging device and the third exhaust-gas turbocharging device are of different sizes, wherein - the exhaust-gas recirculation line branches off upstream of the second and third exhaust-gas turbocharging devices (24, 26), which are arranged in parallel, and opens in downstream of the second and third exhaust-gas turbocharging devices (24, 26), which are arranged in parallel.