Cristiano Ronaldo has equalled Ali Daei’s all-time international goalscoring record after notching his 109th goal for Portugal.
The 36-year-old has been sending records tumbling at Euro 2020, having become the first player ever to appear at five different European Championships before becoming the competition’s all-time leading goalscorer.
Heading into his side’s crucial clash against France on Wednesday night, Ronaldo had already notched three goals for the tournament, leaving him on 107 goals in 177 international appearances.
The Portugal superstar was just two goals off the all-time international goalscoring record held by Daei before the game with Didier Deschamps’ side, though his brace has now seen him draw level with the former Iran forward.
Ronaldo opened the scoring from the penalty spot just past the half hour mark after Hugo Lloris was penalised for a foul on Danilo Pereira.
France staged a terrific comeback to take a 2-1 lead on the night, but Ronaldo’s big moment arrived with an hour played as the referee once again pointed to the spot following a handball by Jules Kounde, allowing the Juventus man to slot home.
The brace moved Ronaldo onto five goals for Euro 2020, though more importantly sees him draw level with Daei on 109 international goals.
The former Iran international managed the tally in just 149 international appearances – 29 fewer than it took Ronaldo – though the Juve man seems destined to overtake his tally in the near future.
The Portugal forward’s international career started all the way back in 2003 when he was handed his debut by former national team coach Agostinho Oliveira.
Since then he’s gone on to become his country’s captain and talisman and finally secured his first piece of major international silverware in 2016 as Portugal were crowned European Championship winners, with Ronaldo top scoring for his side at the competition with three goals.
