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Cristiano Ronaldo equals Ali Daei’s all-time international goalscoring record of 109 goals
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Munich, Germany | THE INDEPENDENT | Cristiano Ronaldo has equalled the world record for international goals, taking his tally to 109 to go level with former Iran forward Ali Daei.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s two goals against France on Matchday 3 of UEFA EURO 2020 have taken his international total for Portugal to 109, matching the world-record mark set by former Iran forward Ali Daei.
The day’s 2-2 draw meant France claimed the Group F top spot, though Portugal will join them in the last 16 as one of the best third-placed teams.
The 36-year-old Ronaldo, already Europe’s top-scoring international footballer, has been hunting down Daei’s total at UEFA EURO 2020, scoring twice in the Matchday 1 win against Hungary before his goal in the defeat in Germany in the second round of matches.
Two penalties against France at the Puskás Aréna pulled him level with Daei, the only other men’s player to score a century of international goals.
France had already confirmed their last-16 spot ahead of the 2016 final repeat, but in greater need of points, Portugal – off the back of a 4-2 Germany defeat – had to avoid defeat.
In a cagey opening, Ronaldo had sniffed out a couple of early half chances and it wasn’t long before the Portuguese captain was on the scoresheet, as he swaggered up to the penalty spot to hammer home on 31 minutes – his first ever goal against Les Bleus.
Sitting deep, Portugal looked comfortable. However, on the stroke of half-time, France struck back. Hauled down in the Portuguese box, Kylian Mbappé won the second spot kick of the match; dispatched by Karim Benzema with aplomb.
France looked to have turned the game around shortly after the restart, as Benzema squeezed in from Paul Pogba’s impeccable through ball. Though on the hour mark, as Jules Koundé handled the ball inside the area, Ronaldo was gifted the opportunity to fire his side back on terms – extending his EURO all-time goalscoring record to 14, as well as equalling Ali Daei’s all-time international goalscoring record of 109 goals.
World Top scorers
109 Ali Daei (Iran) – 149 appearances
109 Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) – 177 appearances
89 Mokhtar Dahari (Malaysia) – 142 appearances
84 Ferenc Puskás (Hungary) – 85 appearances
79 Godfrey Chitalu (Zambia) – 111 appearances
78 Hussein Saeed (Iraq) – 137 appearances
77 Pelé (Brazil) – 92 appearances
76 Ali Mabkhout (United Arab Emirates) – 92 appearances
75 Sándor Kocsis (Hungary) – 68 appearances
75 Kunishige Kamamoto (Japan) – 76 appearances
75 Bashar Abdullah (Kuwait) – 134 appearances
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SOURCE: UEFA2020 MEDIA
