Cristiano Ronaldo becomes all-time top scorer and breaks 66-year record
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Cristiano Ronaldo has broken a 66-year record to become football’s all time top scorer.
The veteran forward has shown no signs of slowing down despite closing in on his 36th birthday, netting 21 goals in 21 games so far this season, including his strike in the Italian Super Cup for Juventus against Napoli.
His 86 goals for the club in total are joined by the 450 he scored for Real Madrid, 118 he scored for Manchester United, four he managed for Sporting and 102 for Portugal.
That tally looks to have made Ronaldo the greatest goal scorer in the history of men’s professional football, despite some debate over the tally of Pele.
Josef Bican, who is believed to have scored 759 goals between 1931 and 1955, had previously led with Pele on 757 goals and Romario on 749.
The tally is sure to reignite the debate over Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, with Juventus boss Andrea Pirlo staying neutral on the subject last month.
Barcelona boss Ronaldo Koeman had said: "It’s not nice to say who is better because both are incredible.
“I admire both players because they have given us so many nice evenings with great goals, great titles."
With Pirlo adding: "Koeman was right.
“It would be wrong to say who is better between Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
“They are two phenomenons that put on spectacles for millions of fans. We just have to thank them."
Ronaldo said of his retirement plans back in 2019: “Several years ago, the age of playing football was until 30-32, but now, you find those who are 40 years old playing on the field.
“The moment my body is no longer responding in the right way on the field, then it would be the time to leave.
“My success in my field is the result of hard work, and a way of living. I work continuously to improve my mental and physical abilities. I aspire to continue my studies after retiring from football.”
- Cristiano Ronaldo
- Juventus FC
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