Cristiano Ronaldo Makes Football History as First Player to Score 900 Goal

Cristiano Ronaldo on Thursday reached an unprecedented milestone in the world of football by scoring his 900th career goal during Portugal's 2-1 victory over Croatia in their opening UEFA Nations League match. This historic achievement cements Ronaldo's status as one of the greatest footballers of all time.

Born on February 5, 1985, in Funchal, Madeira, Portugal, Ronaldo has had a storied career that began with Sporting CP before moving to Manchester United in 2003.

His journey saw him become a pivotal figure at Real Madrid, where he formed a formidable attacking trio with Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale, contributing massively to the club's four Champions League titles between 2014 and 2018. Ronaldo's tenure at Real Madrid also saw him become the club's all-time top goalscorer.

Ronaldo's career is marked by numerous accolades, including five Ballon d'Or awards, three UEFA Men's Player of the Year Awards, and four European Golden Shoes.

He has won 33 trophies, including seven league titles and five UEFA Champions Leagues. His record-breaking achievements extend to being the all-time top scorer in the UEFA Champions League with 140 goals and holding the most appearances (183) and assists (42) in the competition.

In addition to his club success, Ronaldo has been a stalwart for the Portugal national team, earning over 200 caps and scoring 131 international goals, making him the all-time top male goalscorer in international football. He led Portugal to their first major tournament title at Euro 2016 and later to victory in the inaugural UEFA Nations League in 2019.

Ronaldo's dedication to his craft is evident in his elite body conditioning and relentless work ethic. Former Brazil international Ronaldo praised Cristiano's approach to training, stating, "There are so few players who take care of their body like he does. I trained because I had to, he does it because he loves it."

Despite facing criticism early in his career for being perceived as selfish or overly flamboyant, Ronaldo's competitive nature and drive to succeed have earned him respect and admiration. His managers, teammates, and various journalists have often defended him, highlighting that his reputation for arrogance is unfounded.