It’s an old saying in sports, but with Cristiano Ronaldo, it feels like the records are the ones doing the chasing. Tonight, at the historic José Alvalade stadium, the captain of the national team stands on the edge of yet another remarkable achievement. Should he find the net just once against Ireland, Ronaldo will claim the title of the all-time leading scorer in World Cup qualifying matches.
The 40-year-old star currently boasts 39 goals in these qualifiers, a tally that puts him level with Carlos Ruiz, a formidable striker from Guatemala, now 46. Ruiz played fewer games for his country, 47 in total, while CR7 has laced up his boots for 49. It’s a subtle difference, but one that highlights the sheer consistency of the Portuguese legend.
Despite what the birth certificate might say, Ronaldo is enjoying one of his finest stretches in the national jersey. His age seems to be nothing more than a number, a detail easily forgotten when watching him play. He’s been scoring for fun lately, finding the back of the net in five straight matches. If he manages to score again tonight and then on Tuesday, he will match a personal best, hitting seven consecutive goal-scoring games for Portugal, a feat he last pulled off in the 2019/20 season.
Looking at the bigger picture, Ronaldo has piled up 946 goals across his entire career. That leaves him just 54 goals shy of the much-anticipated thousandth mark. Beyond the dream of lifting an unprecedented World Cup trophy in 2026, that colossal milestone seems to be among the final, grand objectives etched into Ronaldo’s extraordinary plan.