In a historic feat that solidifies his place in football lore, Cristiano Ronaldo has become the first men’s player to score 900 goals in official matches. The landmark was achieved during Portugal’s UEFA Nations League clash with Croatia in Lisbon on Thursday.
Ronaldo reached the milestone with a clinical volley from six yards, thanks to a precise cross from Nuno Mendes, giving Portugal a 2-0 lead in the 34th minute. Portugal eventually clinched the match 2-1.
“It means a lot,” Ronaldo told reporters. “It was a milestone I set out to achieve for a long time. I knew it would come as I continued to play.”
Overcome with emotion, Ronaldo raised his hands to his face and fell to his knees in celebration. “It’s a significant moment because it’s a milestone,” he said. “It might seem like just another achievement, but only I and those close to me understand the daily grind, both physically and mentally, that goes into reaching 900 goals. This is truly unique.”
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner now sits 58 goals ahead of his closest rival, Lionel Messi, who has 842 goals. Brazilian icon Pelé ranks third with 765 goals.
Ronaldo was the first to surpass the 800-goal mark, achieving that feat in late 2021 during his second stint with Manchester United. His 131 goals in 209 international appearances are the most in football history, with Messi and Iran’s Ali Daei trailing with 109 each.
Ronaldo’s 769 club goals are spread across Sporting CP, Real Madrid, Juventus, and Al Nassr, in addition to Manchester United.
The 39-year-old striker remains driven, recently revealing his sights are set on reaching 1,000 goals. In an interview with former Manchester United teammate Rio Ferdinand for his YouTube channel, Ronaldo projected that he could hit the milestone by age 41, barring injuries. “I want that,” he said. “Reaching 900 goals was a significant mark, but my next goal is to hit 1,000.”
Ever the competitor, Ronaldo emphasized that his achievements are documented with video evidence. “All my goals have video proof,” he stated. “I respect the legends like Pelé and Di Stéfano, but my goals are all recorded. If they want more, I can bring them from training sessions too. I don’t worry about comparisons.”
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