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Europe's top international scorers: Cristiano Ronaldo out in front

Cristiano Ronaldo has scored a staggering 128 international goals for Portugal. Who else is among the leading goalscorers?

Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 128 times for Portugal
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 128 times for Portugal TT NEWS AGENCY/AFP via Getty Images

Cristiano Ronaldo became the first European to reach 100 international goals in autumn 2020 – and is now well out in front as both Europe's and the world's all-time leading scorer, marking his 200th Portugal appearance with an 89th-minute winner in Iceland on 20 June 2023 before rubber-stamping his side's place at UEFA EURO 2024 with two goals against Slovakia on 13 October.

Ronaldo overtook Ferenc Puskás's European record of 84 national-team goals while starring for Portugal at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. He achieved his century with a free-kick against Sweden in Solna on 8 September 2020.

By then scoring twice at the climax of Portugal's European Qualifier with Republic of Ireland on 1 September 2021, he established a new world record for international goals – overtaking the mark of previous record-holder and ex-Iran forward Ali Daei.

Ronaldo has since taken his total to 128, becoming the first player to score in five World Cups with his goal against Ghana at the 2022 edition, and finding the net against a 47th national team with his double against Liechtenstein on the opening night of UEFA EURO 2024 qualifying.

Top five all-time international goalscorers

1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)* – 128 in 205 appearances
2. Ali Daei (Iran) – 108 goals in 148
3. Lionel Messi (Argentina)* – 106 in 180
4. Sunil Chhetri (India)* – 93 in 145
5. Mokhtar Dahari (Malaysia) – 89 in 142

Europe's all-time top international goalscorers

Great Ronaldo Portugal goals

Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)* – 128 goals in 205 appearances
Ferenc Puskás (Hungary & Spain) – 84 in 89
Romelu Lukaku (Belgium)* – 83 in 113
Robert Lewandowski (Poland)* – 82 in 146
Sándor Kocsis (Hungary) – 75 in 68
Miroslav Klose (Germany) – 71 in 137
Gerd Müller (West Germany) – 68 in 62
Robbie Keane (Republic of Ireland) – 68 in 146
Edin Džeko (Bosnia and Herzegovina)* – 65 in 133
Zlatan Ibrahimović (Sweden) – 62 in 122
Harry Kane (England)* – 62 in 89
Imre Schlosser (Hungary) – 59 in 68
David Villa (Spain) – 59 in 98
Aleksandar Mitrović (Serbia)* – 57 in 86
Olivier Giroud (France)* – 56 in 129
Jan Koller (Czech Republic) – 55 in 91
Joachim Streich (East Germany) – 55 in 102
Wayne Rooney (England) – 53 in 120
Poul Nielsen (Denmark) – 52 in 38
Jon Dahl Tomasson (Denmark) – 52 in 112
Lajos Tichy (Hungary) – 51 in 72
Hakan Sükür (Türkiye) – 51 in 112
Thierry Henry (France) – 51 in 123
Robin van Persie (Netherlands) – 50 in 102

*still active

How Ronaldo's international goals have come

Home or away?

Ronaldo on 100-goal landmark for Portugal

Sixty of Ronaldo's strikes have come at home (including the five he scored at UEFA EURO 2004 and the 2019 UEFA Nations League finals in Portugal), 39 away and 29 on neutral territory.

Win, lose or draw?

Ronaldo has scored in 82 games, with Portugal going on to win 70 of them. They have drawn six and lost seven.

One, two, three, four...

Ronaldo has hit ten hat-tricks, including two four-goal salvos. There have been 23 doubles, with the remaining 50 goals coming in single file.

Favourite opponents

11 Luxembourg
7 Lithuania, Sweden
6 Andorra, Hungary
5 Armenia, Latvia, Switzerland

At UEFA EURO 2020, Ronaldo opened his accounts against Germany and France but he has never registered against Italy or England.

Goals by competition

14 EURO finals
8 World Cup finals
7 Nations League
41 EURO qualifying
36 World Cup qualifying
2 Confederations Cup
20 Friendlies

Ronaldo scores first 'poker' for Portugal

Cristiano Ronaldo key records

All-time top scorer in international matches: 128
Top scorer in EURO qualifying and tournaments
: 55
Top scorer in EURO final tournaments: 14
Scored in most EURO final tournaments: 5
Most goals by a European in competitive internationals: 108
Most goals scored in European World Cup qualifying: 36
Scored in most World Cup final tournaments: 5
First goal in Nations League Finals
: vs Switzerland (semi-finals, 05/06/2019, Porto) – and first hat-trick

Data correct as of 21 November 2023

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