Soccer ace Cristiano Ronaldo made history on Thursday by scoring the 900th goal of his remarkable career during Portugal’s UEFA Nations League encounter against Croatia in Lisbon.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner scored his 131st goal for Portugal, securing his position as the highest international goal scorer in world football.
The historic goal came in the 34th minute, when Ronaldo volleyed in a cross from Nuno Mendes to double Portugal’s lead in a 2-1 triumph. The Portugal captain celebrated with a flash of emotion, sprinting to the corner of the pitch with arms spread before dropping to the ground with his hands over his face.
“This achievement means a lot,” Ronaldo shared with the press post-match. “It was a milestone I wanted to reach for a long time. I knew I would get here as long as I kept playing. It was bound to happen naturally,” he added.
With this goal, Ronaldo became the first male player in history to score 900 goals in official matches, adding to his previous record of 800 goals. According to the Associated Press, Ronaldo is now aiming for a new milestone of 1,000 goals.
Ronaldo’s road to 900 goals is only one of many milestones in his distinguished professional life. He has the most Champions League goals with 141, proving his supremacy in European football. According to ESPN, his closest challenger, Lionel Messi, has 842 career goals, while Pelé of Brazil ranks third with 765 goals.
“It seems like just another milestone, but only I know the effort it takes every day to stay physically and mentally fit,” Ronaldo reflected. “Scoring 900 goals is not easy; it’s a unique milestone in my career.”
The Portuguese star’s club career has been as successful. He started with Sporting CP before joining Manchester United in 2003. After six brilliant seasons, Ronaldo moved to Real Madrid, where he scored an incredible 450 goals in 438 games over nine seasons.
He later played for Juventus in Italy before returning to Manchester United in 2021 and joining Saudi Pro League team Al Nassr in 2023.
Ronaldo, despite being 39, is not about to rest on his laurels. He recently announced his desire to score 1,000 goals during a YouTube interview with former Manchester United colleague Rio Ferdinand. “If I don’t have any injuries, reaching 1,000 goals is the most important thing for me,” he stated.
As Ronaldo continues to break records and set new goals, his desire and passion for the game are as strong as ever. The football world is excited to see what he will accomplish next on his road to 1,000 goals.
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