Cristiano Ronaldo has reached yet another milestone in his career as he equalled Ali Daei’s record to became the top international goals scorer in men’s football in Portugal’s match with world champions France.
The Juventus forward was stretchered off the pitch in the Euro 2016 final against the same opposition as Portugal won their first ever international trophy.
Cristiano Ronaldo ties Ali Daei for the most goals in men’s international history 🐐 pic.twitter.com/N1CXFJLp0o
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 23, 2021
But this time around the former Real Madrid player has starred for his national team – scoring in every group stage match in Euro 2020.
RONALDO BECOMES THE TOP SCORER IN INTERNATIONAL MEN’S FOOTBALL
His first goal of the game came in the 30th minute from 12 yards as he gave Portugal the lead in Hungary and half an hour later in the game he scored Portugal’s second to draw level with the legendary Iranian player’s record.
🔝 All-time top international goalscorers:
⚽️1⃣0⃣9⃣ Ali Daei 🇮🇷
⚽️1⃣0⃣9⃣ Cristiano Ronaldo 🇵🇹 #EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/NRx7rCLqMC— UEFA Nations League (@EURO2024) June 23, 2021
And one statistic that might baffle fans and pundits alike is that only 19 of his 109 goals for Portugal have come in friendly matches. He has scored 31 goals each in World Cup and European Championship qualifiers.
NEXT TARGET – TOP SCORER IN BOTH MEN’S AND WOMEN’S FOOTBALL
He has scored 14 goals so far at the European Championships, 7 in World Cups, 5 in the UEFA Nations League and 2 in the now-extinct FIFA Confederations Cup.
This summer he broke another record as he became the top scorer in the European Championships, overtaking French great Michel Platini in the process. He also became the only player to score at five European Championships earlier this month.
20 – Cristiano Ronaldo has become the first European player in World Cup and European Championship history to score a combined 20 goals across the two competitions. Greatest. #POR #EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/UX7rWGZMyJ
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 23, 2021
And now he has become the record goalscorer in men’s football as the list of records held by him keeps on growing by the day.
He still has a long way to go if he harbours aspirations to break the all-time record in both men’s and women’s football. Canada’s Christine Sinclair ranks first in that regard.
But with his relentless energy and drive, one might wonder whether he will be able to add another feather to his cap before he calls it a day in football.