Cristiano Ronaldo, considered one of the greatest footballers of all time, is celebrating his 39th birthday today.
The Portuguese superstar has had an illustrious career, playing for some of the biggest clubs in the world, including Real Madrid and Manchester United. He led his national team to glory in the EURO 2016 and the UEFA Nations League 2019.
He has also won numerous individual awards, including five Ballon d’Ors, four European Golden Shoes, and seven FIFA The Best awards.
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Ronaldo is not only a prolific goalscorer but also a record-breaker. He holds several records in various competitions, both at club and international level. Here are five of his most impressive records:
- Most goals in UEFA Champions League history: Ronaldo is the all-time top scorer in the Champions League, with 137 goals in 176 appearances². He has also won the competition five times, four with Real Madrid and one with Manchester United. He is the only player to score in three different Champions League finals and the only one to score in 11 consecutive matches in the tournament².
- Most goals for a single club in La Liga history: Ronaldo scored 311 goals in 292 games for Real Madrid in the Spanish top flight, making him the highest scorer for a single club in La Liga history. He also holds the record for the most hat-tricks in La Liga, with 34, and the most goals in a single season, with 48 in 2014/15³.
- Most goals in European Championship finals: Ronaldo is the leading scorer in the European Championship, with 14 goals in 24 games². He scored his first goal in the competition in 2004, when he was 19 years old, and his latest in 2021, when he was 36. He is the only player to score in five different tournament editions and the only one to score in nine consecutive international tournaments².
- Most international goals by a male player: Ronaldo is the most prolific scorer in international football, with 115 goals in 180 caps for Portugal³. He surpassed the previous record of 109 goals, held by Iran’s Ali Daei, in 2021. He has scored every calendar year since 2003 and has netted against 45 countries.
- Oldest player to score a hat-trick in the Premier League: Ronaldo returned to Manchester United in 2023 after 12 years away from the club. He instantly impacted, scoring a brace on his second debut against Newcastle United. He then scored a hat-trick against Southampton, becoming the oldest player in the Premier League at 38 years and 272 days.
Ronaldo shows no signs of slowing down despite his advancing age. He continues breaking records and defying expectations, proving he is a true game legend. Happy birthday, Cristiano Ronaldo! 🎂.
