Ronaldo reaches 900 career goals – why Transfermarkt data slightly differs

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131 goals for Portugal 

The biggest story as international football returned on Thursday night with the Nations League was Cristiano Ronaldo celebrating his 900th* goal for Portugal against Croatia. The legendary attacker was visibly emotional as he netted Portugal’s second goal of the game in the 2-1 win over Croatia on 34 minutes. Ronaldo sank to his knees as his teammates embraced their hero and it was Ronaldo’s 131st goal for his country in his 213th appearances – no player has scored more goals for their country or received more caps than the Manchester United and Real Madrid legend.

“I don’t break records. Records are what haunts me,” Ronaldo said after the final whistle. “It was a unique milestone in my career, that I have wanted to achieve for a long time,” Ronaldo added on his social media channels. In addition to his goals for Portugal, Ronaldo has scored another 450 for Real Madrid, 145 for Manchester United, 101 for Juventus, five for Sporting CP and 68* for his current club Al-Nassr – however Transfermarkt has only recorded 62 for Al-Nassr, which is why Ronaldo’s total career goals stands at 894 on our website, as explained in the editorial note below.

Editor’s note: In the transfer market database, only 62 goals are listed for Ronaldo’s time at Al-Nassr. The six goals that were also missing for the total of 900 were scored in the so-called Arab Club Champions Cup 2023, which is not listed in the TM database as an official competition.

Even before the game, Ronaldo had announced that he would not think about the end of his career in the national team. “If I no longer have added value, I will be the first to leave. After the European Championship in Germany, it never occurred to him that my cycle was over. On the contrary, it motivated me even more to continue.”