Cristiano Ronaldo has made football history by becoming the first men’s player to score 900 goals in official matches.
The Portuguese forward achieved this remarkable feat during Portugal’s UEFA Nations League clash against Croatia in Lisbon on Thursday, securing his 900th goal with a precise volley from 6 yards out, assisted by Nuno Mendes.
The goal gave Portugal a 2-0 lead, and they went on to win the match 2-1.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner now sits 58 goals ahead of his closest competitor, Lionel Messi, who has 842 goals to his name. Brazilian football legend Pelé ranks third with 765 official goals.
Ronaldo was previously the first player to surpass the 800-goal mark, a milestone he reached during his second stint at Manchester United in late 2021. In addition to his 769 club goals, Ronaldo boasts a record 131 goals for Portugal in 209 appearances, making him the highest-scoring player in international football.
Messi and former Iranian forward Ali Daei follow on the list with 109 international goals each.
The 39-year-old forward, currently playing for Al Nassr, has no plans to slow down and has set his sights on an even bigger milestone.
In a recent interview with former teammate Rio Ferdinand, Ronaldo revealed his ambition to reach 1,000 career goals by the time he turns 41, provided he remains injury-free.
