DBasia.news – Cristiano Ronaldo made Iranian legend Ali Daei ‘bow down’ to him after equaling the record for top scorer. Ronaldo confirmed himself as the world’s top scorer with the national team, equaling the record held by Ali Daei.
In the last match of the Euro 2020 group F at the Ferenck Puskas Stadium between Portugal and France, Thursday (24/06), Ronaldo made a record after scoring two goals from penalties in a match that ended in a 2-2 draw.
Ronaldo’s two goals brought Portugal through to the last 16 as the best third place and continued efforts to defend the European Cup title. Portugal bounced back after losing 2-4 against Germany.
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“What I really like is the collective attitude of the team. When I was asked what we should do, it was different from the game against Germany and I said it was like ourselves,” Portugal coach Fernando Santos told UEFA’s official website.
“We were strong, consistent, with great spirit. We can keep improving. In the second half we didn’t start well but we regrouped.”
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has now scored 109 goals in 176 caps for Portugal, placing him as the all-time international top scorer, equaling Iranian legend Ali Daei who scored 109 goals in 149 games in 1993-2006.
Ali Daei congratulated Ronaldo on his Instagram account. Daei is honored that his record will be broken by Ronaldo, who is only one goal away from becoming the all-time top international scorer.
“Congratulations to Cristiano Ronaldo who is now one goal away from breaking the men’s international goalscoring record,” said Ali Daei.
“I am honored that this great achievement will belong to Ronaldo – a true champion of football and a humanist who cares and inspires and makes a living impact on the world. Vamos!”
The record for the World Cup and European Cup was also broken by the legend of Manchester United and Real Madrid. Ronaldo’s first goal broke the record held by former Germany striker Miroslav Klose who scored 19 goals in a combined World Cup and European Cup goals (Ronaldo 20 goals).
Ronaldo’s two goals also mean that Ronaldo has scored five goals at Euro 2020 in the group stage, the most in the tournament’s history in the group stages after Michel Platini’s seven goals in 1984.
Here are the all-time top international goalscorers in the men’s soccer category:
1. 109 goals – Ali Daei (Iran) – 149 appearances
2. 109 goals – Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) – 177 appearances
3. 89 goals – Mokhtar Dahari (Malaysia) – 142 appearances
4. 84 goals – Ferenc Puskas (Hungary) – 85 appearances
5. 79 goals – Godfrey Chitalu (Zambia) – 111 appearances
6. 78 goals – Hussein Saeed (Iraq) – 137 appearances
7. 77 goals – Pele (Brazil) – 92 appearances
8. 76 goals – Ali Mabkhout (United Arab Emirates) – 92 appearances
9. 75 goals – Sandor Kocsis (Hungary) – 68 appearances
10. 75 goals – Kunishige Kamamoto (Japan) – 76 appearances
11. 75 goals – Bashar Abdullah (Kuwait) – 134 appearances