Cristiano Ronaldo has made history by becoming the first male football player to score 900 goals in official matches. This remarkable achievement occurred during Portugal’s UEFA Nations League match against Croatia in Lisbon, where Ronaldo scored the milestone goal in the 34th minute.
He found the net with a well-placed volley from 6 yards out, thanks to a precise cross from Nuno Mendes, putting Portugal ahead 2-0. Portugal eventually won the match 2-1.
Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner, now leads the all-time scoring charts by a wide margin. His nearest competitor, Lionel Messi, stands at 842 goals, while Brazilian legend Pelé is third with 765 goals.
Ronaldo was also the first player to surpass 800 goals, achieving that feat in 2021 during his second spell at Manchester United.
In addition to his club success, Ronaldo’s international record is equally impressive. He has scored 131 goals in 209 appearances for Portugal, making him the top international goal scorer of all time. Messi and former Iranian forward Ali Daei are tied for second on this list, with 109 goals each.
Throughout his career, Ronaldo has scored 769 club goals while playing for Al Nassr, Manchester United, Sporting CP, Real Madrid, and Juventus. Despite being 39 years old, Ronaldo has made it clear that he is far from finished.
He recently expressed his ambition to reach an even greater milestone, stating, “I want to reach 1,000 goals,” during an interview with his former Manchester United teammate Rio Ferdinand on his YouTube channel.
Ronaldo’s drive and competitive nature continue to push him forward. He emphasized the importance of his goals being documented on video, setting him apart from legends like Pelé and Alfredo Di Stefano, who played in an era with limited camera coverage. “All the goals I have scored, they have video,” he said. “If you want more goals, I can bring them from training, too.”
