Cristiano Ronaldo made history once again by scoring the 900th goal of his illustrious career, leading Portugal to a 2-1 victory over Croatia in the UEFA Nations League at Lisbon’s Stadium of Light on Thursday.
The 39-year-old forward found the back of the net in the 34th minute, connecting with a precise cross from Nuno Mendes to double Portugal’s lead after Diogo Dalot opened the scoring in the seventh minute. Despite Dalot’s own goal in the 41st minute, Portugal held on to secure the win.
Ronaldo’s remarkable achievement cements his status as the world’s first player to reach 900 career goals. His prolific scoring record includes 131 goals for Portugal, five for his first club Sporting CP, 145 for Manchester United, 450 for Real Madrid, 101 for Juventus, and 68 for his current club Al Nassr.
“It means a lot,” Ronaldo said after the match. “It was a milestone I wanted to reach for a long time. I knew I would reach this number because, as I continue to play, it would happen naturally.”
“It was emotional because it’s a milestone,” he added. “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.”
Bruno Fernandes, Ronaldo’s former teammate at Manchester United, praised the legendary forward’s dedication and impact on Portuguese football.
“We ended up stopping counting goals, but he didn’t,” Fernandes said. “He broke another record, a record for Portugal, and once again raised the name of Portugal to an enormous level. There are no words to describe it.”
Ronaldo’s achievement not only showcases his enduring talent but also serves as an inspiration to athletes worldwide, highlighting the dedication required to reach such extraordinary heights in sports.
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Cristiano Ronaldo on scoring career 900th goal: 'It was emotional'
cgtn.com
