Cristiano Ronaldo Nets His 900th Goal as Portugal Secure a Win Against Croatia

The man, the myth, the record-breaker! Cristiano Ronaldo has achieved several remarkable milestones during his illustrious career. However, scoring his 900th career goal might rank as his most impressive.

Cristiano Ronaldo has reached another incredible milestone, becoming just the second player ever to score 900 career goals, following Brazilian legend Pele. The big difference is that unlike Pele's record, Ronaldo's goals are all backed by video proof, adding an extra layer of credibility to his achievement. At 39, Ronaldo has now scored 131 goals for Portugal, 450 for Real Madrid, 145 for Manchester United, 101 for Juventus, 68 for Al Nassr, and 5 for Sporting Lisbon. 

Before Ronaldo's historic goal, Portugal paid tribute to their now-retired defensive stalwart, Pepe. But once the match kicked off, it was Cristiano Ronaldo who took center stage. His 900th career goal put Portugal up 2-0 in the 34th minute. Portugal's first goal came early, in the 7th minute, when Diogo Dalot expertly controlled a Bruno Fernandes cross and slotted the ball through Livakovic’s legs. Despite falling behind 2-0, Croatia kept fighting and were rewarded in the 41st minute when Dalot accidentally turned the ball into his own net. 

Croatia pushed hard in the second half, but Portugal's rearguard held strong, and the match ended 2-1. Portugal started their UEFA Nations League campaign on a high, with fans celebrating Pepe’s legacy, Ronaldo's 900th goal, and a hard-fought win. It was a perfect night for Portuguese supporters—what more could you ask for? Following the victory, Ronaldo expressed his feelings. During a post-match interview, he said, “It means a lot. It was a milestone I wanted to reach for a long time. I knew I would reach this number, because as I continue to play, it would happen naturally.” 

After scoring his 900th goal, Ronaldo dropped to his knees and covered his face in an emotional celebration. Reflecting on the moment, he said, “It was emotional because it’s a milestone. It seems like any other milestone, but only I know, and the people around me, how hard it is to work every day, to be physically and psychologically fit, to score 900 goals. It’s a unique milestone in my career.” This was Ronaldo’s 131st goal for Portugal (a record in itself), but he will be aiming to increase his international goal tally when Portugal face Scotland on Sunday. 

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