Cristiano Ronaldo scored two pivotal goals in Wednesday’s decisive Euro 2020 match against France to tie the men’s international goalscoring record.
Ronaldo tallied twice from the penalty spot — first to put Portugal ahead early, then to tie the match at 2-2 — to pull level with Iranian former striker Ali Daei on 109 career goals for his country.
Ronaldo is still 77 goals behind Canadian forward Christine Sinclair, whose 186 (and counting) international goals are the most ever by a man or woman.
Ronaldo’s goals on Wednesday — his fourth and fifth of the tournament in three games — have Portugal in position to advance to the knockout rounds, where Ronaldo very well could break Daei’s record.
Ronaldo first scored for Portugal’s senior national team in June of 2004, at that year’s European Championships on home soil.
Over the 17 years since, he’s scored in friendlies, in 2006 World Cup qualifying, in the 2006 World Cup itself, in Euro 2008 qualifying, in the 2010 World Cup, in Euro 2012 qualifying, in Euro 2012 itself, in 2014 World Cup qualifying, in the 2014 World Cup itself, in Euro 2016 qualifying, in Euro 2016 itself, in the 2017 Confederations Cup, in 2018 World Cup qualifying, in the 2018 World Cup itself, in the 2019 UEFA Nations League, in the 2021 UEFA Nations League, in 2022 World Cup qualifying, and now in Euro 2020.
He’s 36 years old, and showing some signs of slowing down, though not many. The 2022 World Cup is very much in his sights.
Ronaldo needed 178 matches to reach 109 goals, more than Daei, who hit 109 in just 149 appearances for Iran. But Ronaldo has scored his 109 against much tougher competition. The UAE’s Ali Mabkhout is second on the list among active players with 76 goals. Lionel Messi has scored 73 against the toughest competition of all.
This story will be updated.
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