Fiona Nanna, ForeMedia News

8 minutes read. Updated 12:18AM GMT Sat, 7 September, 2024

Cristiano Ronaldo reached a historic milestone on Thursday, netting his 900th career goal in Portugal’s UEFA Nations League match against Croatia. The 39-year-old forward’s goal, which put Portugal 2-0 up, prompted an emotional celebration as Ronaldo dropped to his knees by the corner flag, overwhelmed by the weight of his achievement.

“It was emotional because it’s a milestone,” Ronaldo remarked. “It seems like any other milestone, but only I know, and the people around me, how hard it is to work every day, to be physically and psychologically fit, to score 900 goals. It’s a unique milestone in my career.”

The goal was his 131st for Portugal, complementing the 769 goals he has amassed at the club level for Sporting Lisbon, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, and his current team, Al-Nassr. Ronaldo’s achievement is a testament to his enduring excellence, having scored for more than two decades since his first professional goal at age 17 with Sporting CP.

Scoring for Over Two Decades: A Breakdown of Ronaldo’s Goals

Ronaldo’s career began with a double for Sporting CP on October 7, 2002, at just 17 years old. From there, he moved to Manchester United, where he scored 118 goals in 293 appearances. His nine-year tenure at Real Madrid saw him net a staggering 450 goals in 438 games, setting a record for the club. Ronaldo continued his prolific form at Juventus with 101 goals in three seasons before a second stint at Manchester United added 27 goals to his tally. Since joining Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, Ronaldo has already scored 68 goals, demonstrating his ability to excel in diverse leagues.

Notably, almost half of Ronaldo’s goals (437) have come since he turned 30, illustrating his resilience and adaptability as a forward.

How Ronaldo Scores His Goals

According to Opta, Ronaldo’s 900 goals include 164 penalties and 64 free-kicks. A majority of his goals (768) have been scored from inside the penalty area, while 132 have come from outside. Ronaldo has notched up 66 hat-tricks in his career, and his goals are distributed across various settings: 479 at home, 361 away, and 60 at neutral venues. The teams he has scored against most frequently are Sevilla (27 goals), Atlético de Madrid (25), Getafe (23), Barcelona (20), and Celta de Vigo (20).

Is Ronaldo the Top Scorer Ever?

While there is no definitive database for the all-time top scorer in men’s football, Ronaldo is recognized as the leading scorer in official matches at the highest level. He surpassed 800 goals during his second spell at Manchester United, a feat that placed him ahead of football legends like Pele and Romario. Although both Brazilian icons claimed to have scored over 1,000 goals, when friendlies are excluded, their tallies fall to 778 and 785, respectively, according to unofficial sources like RSSSF.

Ronaldo’s long-time rival Lionel Messi has scored 867 career goals, trailing behind the Portuguese star in the all-time ranking.

‘I Want 1,000’ – Ronaldo’s Next Target

Despite reaching 900 goals, Ronaldo is not ready to hang up his boots. In a recent interview with Rio Ferdinand on his YouTube channel, Ronaldo expressed his ambition to reach 1,000 goals before retiring. “I want to reach 1,000 goals,” he said. “If I don’t have any injuries, this for me is the most important [thing]. I want that. All the goals I have scored, they have video.”

As Ronaldo approaches his 40s, speculation mounts over whether he will continue to represent Portugal at the 2026 World Cup. However, Ronaldo remains focused on enjoying the game, noting that his primary motivation comes from playing football, not chasing records. “Portugal winning the Euros is equivalent to winning a World Cup. I’ve already won two trophies for Portugal that I really wanted. I’m not motivated by that. I’m motivated by enjoying football and the records come naturally.”

Meta Description: Cristiano Ronaldo has reached 900 career goals, marking a monumental achievement in football history. Explore the numbers behind this landmark as Ronaldo continues to redefine the standards of excellence in football.