Cristiano Ronaldo experienced a historic moment in the match between Portugal and Croatia (2-1) in Matchday 1 of the 2024/25 Nations League. Why? Because the relentless 39-year-old Portuguese forward, with his goal against the 'checkered', connecting a cross to Nuno Mendes in the area and sending the ball with a subtle touch of his right boot, reached the incredible milestone of 900 goals at a professional level in 1236 matches.
With this impressive achievement, Funchal consolidates even more as the top scorer in the history of football, surpassing his closest rival, Leo Messi, by 62 goals. The '10' of the 'Albiceleste' has a total of 838 goals in 1069 matches. It is important to note that both players are still active both at club and international levels, so these numbers could continue to grow.
| PLAYER | NUMBER OF GOALS |
|---|---|
| Cristiano Ronaldo | 900 goals in 1236 matches |
| Leo Messi | 838 goals in 1069 matches |
| Josef Bican | 759 goals in 495 matches |
| Pelé | 757 goals in 820 matches |
| Romário | 745 goals in 962 matches |
| Gerd Müller | 735 goals in 793 matches |
| Ferenc Puskás | 704 goals in 718 matches |
| Robert Lewandowski | 656 goals in 932 matches |
| Jimmy Jones | 647 goals in 614 matches |
| Eusébio | 621 goals in 639 matches |
Now, in terms of his notable achievements at clubs, Ronaldo has scored the most goals with Real Madrid, netting 450 goals in 438 matches. Subsequently, at Manchester United, he added 145 goals in 346 matches, continuing his career at Juventus where he accumulated 101 goals in 134 appearances. Prior to all this, he played at Sporting Club, scoring five goals in 31 games, and currently plays for Al-Nassr, where he already has 68 goals in 74 matches. Alongside his performances for the 'Seleção', where he is the top scorer with 131 goals in 213 'clashes', he enjoys a truly remarkable and enviable scoring record.
His Statements... With a Possible Nod to Leo Messi?
After the match against the Croatians, 'CR7' made controversial statements that some interpreted as a nod to Leo Messi. The Portuguese forward asserted that "For Portugal to win the Euros is equivalent to winning a World Cup", downplaying the importance of the World Cup, the only title missing in his extensive collection and one that 'La Pulga' has already achieved.
However, the Portuguese also expressed satisfaction with his achievements with the national team and the records he has set. "I have already won with Portugal two trophies that I really wanted. That doesn't motivate me. I am motivated to enjoy football, and records come naturally," he concluded.